Accident Overview
On January 31, 2009, at approximately 1811 eastern standard time, an unregistered, amateur-built experimental light sport aircraft (Quicksilver MXL II Sport) collided with a power line at Summey Airpark in Ellenboro, North Carolina. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, was killed, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight was operated under Part 91 as a personal flight without a filed flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.
Flight History
According to witnesses interviewed by an FAA inspector, the pilot began taxiing the airplane around the airport before proceeding to runway 14. Shortly after departure, the airplane executed a hard left bank turn, flew between two airport hangars, struck a power line, and then collided with the ground.
Pilot Information
The pilot, aged 55, held a private pilot certificate with a single-engine land rating, last updated on June 12, 2008. His most recent medical examination was in April 1996, for a third-class certificate with no limitations. On that application, he reported 500 flight hours. According to the pilot's wife, he had flown about 60 hours in the preceding 90 days, with less than 1 hour in the accident airplane. His logbook was not available for review.
Aircraft Information
The two-seat, high-wing, fixed-gear Quicksilver MXL II Sport (serial number 000807) was manufactured in 2002. It was powered by a Rotax 503 DCDI 50-horsepower engine and equipped with a three-bladed Warp Drive propeller. The airframe hour meter indicated approximately 263 hours. The aircraft was unregistered and uncertificated at the time of the accident, and no logbooks were available.
Investigation Findings
An FAA inspector examined the airframe, flight controls, and engine, finding no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction. The fuel system contained about 10 gallons of automotive fuel, with no water or debris detected. The aircraft was equipped with a ballistic parachute system, which was not deployed.
Autopsy and Toxicology
An autopsy performed on February 2, 2009, listed the cause of death as multiple blunt force injuries. Toxicological tests found no ethanol or drugs in the pilot's system.