History of Flight
On June 22, 2011, at approximately 1340 central daylight time, an Ultralight America Spitfire II experimental light sport airplane, N6524R, sustained substantial damage during a loss of control on takeoff from Ranger Municipal Airport (KF23) in Ranger, Texas. A postimpact fire occurred. The student pilot and pilot-rated passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.
According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the purpose of the flight was to take the airplane's prospective buyer for a local flight before a possible purchase. After takeoff, the airplane was observed to stall and roll left before impacting a tree and subsequently the ground.
Personnel Information
Student Pilot
The student pilot, aged 70, held a student pilot certificate with no limitations issued on September 30, 2012. He did not hold an airman medical certificate. His logbooks were not located, and his experience in the accident airplane was not determined.
Pilot-Rated Passenger
The pilot-rated passenger, aged 56, held a private pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine land rating. He was issued a third-class airman medical certificate without limitations on January 12, 2007. His logbooks were not located; at the time of his medical certificate application, he reported 300 total flight hours.
Aircraft Information
According to FAA records, the Ultralight America Spitfire II (serial number 00180100JT) was registered on a special airworthiness certificate for experimental operations. It was powered by a Rotax 582 engine equipped with a two-blade Warp Drive propeller. The maintenance logbooks were not located.
Meteorological Information
The closest official weather observation station was Stephens County Airport (KBKD) in Breckenridge, Texas, located 19 nautical miles northwest of the accident site. At 1335, the METAR reported wind calm, visibility 10 miles, clear sky, temperature 32°C, dew point 13°C, and altimeter 29.95 inches. The calculated density altitude was 3,921 feet.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The accident site was in a grove of trees and bushes, 600 feet west of runway 18/36, approximately midfield, at an elevation of 1,473 feet msl. The main wreckage comprised the engine, propeller, left and right wings, empennage, and fuselage; it was charred, melted, and partially consumed by fire. The remaining structure was bent, crushed, and broken due to ground impact. Flight control cables were continuous. No preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures were found that would have precluded normal operation.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy performed by the Tarrant County Medical Examiner's office on June 3, 2011, concluded that the cause of death for the student pilot was blunt force injuries with extensive thermal injuries. The FAA's Civil Aerospace Medical Institute conducted toxicological tests on specimens collected during the autopsy (CAMI Reference #201100121001). Results were negative for carbon monoxide, cyanide, and ethanol. Blood testing revealed chlorpheniramine, 0.247 µg/ml diphenhydramine, levetiracetam, and metoprolol. Urine testing revealed chlorpheniramine, diphenhydramine, levetiracetam, metoprolol, and naproxen. Chlorpheniramine and diphenhydramine are common over-the-counter antihistamines; levetiracetam is an anticonvulsant; metoprolol is a beta blocker; naproxen is an anti-inflammatory agent. The student pilot's medical records were not available, and it is unknown why he was taking these medications. Neither an autopsy nor toxicology was conducted on the pilot-rated passenger.