Accident Overview
A 199-hour private pilot lost control of a vintage airplane while maneuvering at low altitude. The flight originated from the pilot's private airstrip. There were no eyewitnesses to the accident itself, but several people in the area reported observing the aircraft flying slowly overhead at low altitude minutes before the accident.
Witness Account
A witness working in a nearby field described the aircraft's flight: "[The plane's] airspeed was probably 50 miles per hour, maximum, and [at an] altitude of 25 to 50 feet. They waved at us and kept on [flying] south."
Aircraft Examination
Post-accident inspection revealed all major components at the accident site. The fuel lever was in the "on" position. Control continuity was established to all flight controls. The engine sustained heat and impact damage. The propeller remained bolted to the prop flange, which was bent, resulting in an angle between the crankshaft and propeller. The left and right magnetos were removed and hand-rotated; neither produced a spark, but both were heat/fire damaged. The engine was hand-rotated, yielding thumb compression on each cylinder, and continuity was established through the motor to the accessory section. The bottom sparkplugs were removed and examined; they were dark gray and worn. No pre-impact abnormalities with the engine, cylinder assemblies, or engine components were found.
Toxicology
Toxicological testing detected tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary active substance in marijuana, and tetrahydrocannabinol carboxylic acid, an inactive metabolite, in the pilot’s blood at levels consistent with very recent use.