History of Flight
The accident occurred on November 7, 2009, around 1745 eastern standard time. The private pilot was operating a Lockwood Aircraft Air-cam (registration N32786) under 14 CFR Part 91. The aircraft had departed from London, Ontario, Canada, after having amphibious floats installed at the Clamar Floats factory. The intended destination was Mad River Airport in Tremont City, Ohio. While approaching to land on runway 15 at Elliot's Landing Airport, the airplane impacted the ground. The wreckage came to rest about 250 yards northeast of the approach end of runway 15, consistent with the airplane being on the base leg of the traffic pattern.
Personnel Information
The pilot was 56 years old and held a private pilot certificate with single-engine and multiengine land ratings. He also had a second-class medical certificate issued in August 2008, which required glasses for near and intermediate vision. He reported 1,300 total flight hours on his medical application.
Aircraft Information
The airplane was an experimental amateur-built twin-engine aircraft with two Rotax 912 engines mounted in pusher configuration on the upper aft side of the strut-braced high wing. It featured an open cockpit with tandem seating for two occupants. The aircraft was equipped with Clamar amphibious floats.
Meteorological Information
Weather reported at Marion Municipal Airport, about 21 nautical miles away, around the time of the accident included wind from 200 degrees at 9 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, clear skies, temperature 15°C, dew point 7°C, and altimeter setting 29.95 inches of mercury.
Airport Information
Elliot's Landing Airport was privately owned but open to the public. It had a single grass runway (15/33) measuring 2,750 feet by 110 feet. The airport featured a restaurant that the pilot had previously visited.
Wreckage and Impact Information
Three ground scars within 30 feet of the main wreckage were consistent with right wing, fuselage nose, and left float impacts. The airplane came to rest inverted, with extensive damage to the nose and right wing. The right float's forward section was bent upward; the left float separated at the forward strut attachment. The right wing was crushed rearward and folded under the fuselage. The aft fuselage separated from the forward fuselage, but the empennage remained intact. The landing wheels were retracted. Control system continuity was verified, and no pre-impact defects were found.
The right engine separated from the airframe, and its composite propeller blades were broken off about 12 inches from the hub, embedded in the ground. The right wing showed propeller damage. The left engine remained attached, and its propeller was intact. The left engine was manually rotated and produced compression on all cylinders; no defects were found.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy on November 8, 2009, listed the cause of death as blunt force injuries. A toxicology report detected diphenhydramine in blood (0.041 ug/ml) and urine, as well as ibuprofen in urine.