History of Flight
On April 18, 2008, at 1155 eastern daylight time, an AeroFab Lake LA-250, registration N14037, crashed into wooded terrain during a simulated engine failure near Skaneateles, New York. The flight was an instructional flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, operated by a private individual. It departed Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR) at 1130. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed.
A witness in the area observed the airplane flying north of his house around 1150. He noticed a sputtering engine noise. The airplane circled and descended, then turned on its side. Shortly after, the engine revved up, followed by a crunching noise. The witness drove toward the airport and saw the airplane's tail in the woods. He entered the woods, heard the survivor respond, and pulled him away from the airplane due to fuel spillage. He then called 911 and saw the other pilot move slightly but received no response. Emergency units arrived shortly thereafter.
Paramedics dispatched at 1158 found the CFI conscious on the ground about 12 feet from the airplane. The CFI stated he was the flight instructor and that he and the private pilot were simulating an engine failure. He reported that he "lost airspeed thus causing the crash."
Personnel Information
The CFI, age 43, held a certified flight instructor certificate with single-engine and instrument ratings, updated May 27, 2007. He held a second-class medical certificate issued June 5, 2007, with corrective lens limitations. His logbook showed 10,024.6 total flight hours, with 23 hours in the Lake LA-250, including 17 instructional hours in the previous 90 days. The purpose of the flight was instruction for a commercial pilot certificate. That day's maneuvers included short/soft field takeoffs and landings, and steep spirals to landing. The previous three flights did not include steep spirals.
The private pilot, age 64, held a private pilot certificate with single-engine land, single-engine sea, and instrument ratings. He held a second-class medical certificate issued March 3, 2008, with corrective lens limitations. His logbooks were not recovered.
Aircraft Information
The five-seat, low-wing, retractable-gear airplane, serial number 39, was manufactured in 1986. It was powered by a Lycoming IO-540 C4B5 250-horsepower engine and a Hartzell constant-speed propeller. An annual inspection was completed on July 24, 2007, at a recorded tachometer reading of 1800.1 hours, corresponding to an airframe total time of 1964.1 hours.
Meteorological Information
The 1154 weather observation at SYR reported winds from 290 degrees at 4 knots, visibility 10 miles, clear sky, temperature 25°C, dew point 4°C, and altimeter setting 30.05 inches of mercury.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The airplane crashed into a wooded area approximately 1,000 feet from the approach end of runway 10 at Skaneateles Aero Drome. It came to rest on a 060-degree magnetic heading, with a debris path about 300 feet long. The airplane fragmented after colliding with trees.
Examination revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunction of the airframe or flight controls. The nose section separated from the fuselage and was crushed. The engine throttle control was found in the full forward position, the mixture full rich, and the fuel selector on. The empennage separated from the fuselage. Flight control continuity was established. The engine remained attached to the pylon, which separated from the fuselage. No preimpact engine or system malfunctions were found.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy on the private pilot was performed on April 19, 2008, by the Onondaga County Medical Examiner’s Office. The cause of death was reported as multiple injuries due to blunt trauma. Forensic toxicology by the FAA showed no ethanol or drugs detected.
Additional Information
The FAA commercial pilot practical test standards state that flight instructors are responsible for training applicants to acceptable standards in all maneuvers and procedures.