Flight History
On July 18, 2008, at an unknown time, an experimental Nichols Rans, Inc., S-14, N923GN, collided with terrain about 1 mile east of Benson Municipal Airport (E95), Benson, Arizona. The pilot was operating the airplane under 14 CFR Part 91. The certificated commercial pilot was killed; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The cross-country flight departed Marana Regional Airport, Tucson, Arizona, at an unknown time, with a planned destination of Benson Municipal Airport before continuing to Idabel, Oklahoma. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan had been filed.
A 911 call came into the Benson Police Department Dispatch Center about 1300 MST from a local resident who had been driving to the airport. He and a companion noticed a tail sticking up from behind a hill adjacent to the road, investigated, and found the airplane and pilot.
According to the new owner of the airplane, he had purchased it on eBay and hired the accident pilot to fly it to his location in Oklahoma. On the day of the crash, the pilot was embarking on the first leg of the flight. The NTSB was provided with a receipt for 8.00 gallons of fuel purchased at 1120 from Marana Airport on the day of the accident.
Aircraft Information
The experimental airplane was a 1993 Nichols Rans, Inc., S-14 Airaile, N923GN, serial number 0393064. Its airworthiness certificate was issued on January 5, 2007. A 2-cycle Rotax 582 DCDI engine, serial number 5236656, was installed. On May 5, 2007, ownership transferred from the builder/owner/pilot to the owner of record, who then sold it on eBay.
According to the Rans S-14 specification sheet, the engine burns 5.75 gallons per hour at 85% power, with a fuel capacity of 9 gallons. Endurance is 1.56 hours, range 148 miles.
Airport Information
Benson Municipal Airport is approximately 50 nautical miles east-southeast of Marana Regional Airport, per the Phoenix Aeronautical Sectional Chart.
Wreckage and Impact Information
FAA inspectors responded and noted the accident area was flat desert terrain. The impact appeared to be a low velocity and high angle impact. The airplane impacted in a left wing low nose attitude before coming to rest inverted. A witness mark matching the wing shape was found about 10 feet behind the main wreckage, about 18 inches deep. The left wing exhibited about 3 feet of crush damage from the wing tip inboard. The right wing remained intact with minor impact damage. The nose was crushed inward, and the tail boom was bent downward about 30 degrees from normal.
Both wings contained fuel draining out of the vent, soaking the earth beneath. Flight control continuity was established between all control surfaces; the flap position was 10-20 degrees. Engine oil was also observed draining when the airplane was righted. According to FAA records, the registration certificate for the airplane had been terminated. An engine teardown inspection was not completed.
Medical and Pathological Information
The Cochise County Medical Examiner completed an autopsy on July 22, 2008, listing the cause of death as blunt force injuries from the crash. The FAA Forensic Toxicology Research Team performed toxicological testing. No carbon monoxide, cyanide, or volatiles were found. The following drugs were detected: Nordiazepam in urine (0.05 µg/ml) and blood (0.011 µg/ml); Oxazepam and Temazepam in urine only; Tetrahydrocannabinol (marihuana) in blood (0.0511 µg/ml) and lung (1.3028 µg/ml); and metabolites in blood and lung.
The pilot's most recent application for a second-class Airman Medical Certificate indicated NO to questions about current medication and under Medical History specifically: mental disorders of any sort, and substance dependence or abuse or use of illegal substance in the last 2 years. FAA medical records noted that in 1976, the pilot satisfactorily completed a Signal Light Test due to defective color vision.
GPS Data
A Lowrance Airmap 100 handheld GPS unit found in the wreckage was sent to the Safety Board vehicle recorder laboratory. Visual examination showed no significant damage, and the unit started normally. Data was downloaded via serial port, including 71 user-defined waypoints and one trail with latitude/longitude only; no date/time or altitude stamps were recorded.
The trail data was updated every 3 seconds. The trail began at a position fix corresponding to Marana Regional Airport. The data points showed a downwind departure from another airport and stopped just short of the approach end of the runway near the accident airport. The final GPS position placed the airplane at 31.995016°N, 110.348607°W at the accident site. The distance between the two airports was about 50 nautical miles. The pilot had not filed a flight plan, and fueled the airplane about 2 hours before the wreckage was discovered, but the departure time is unclear.