Accident Details
On September 18, 2011, at approximately 1721 central daylight time, an amateur-built, experimental light sport Aero Adventure Zephyr II airplane (registration N3577F) was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during takeoff from Sylacauga Municipal Airport (SCD), Sylacauga, Alabama. The certificated private pilot was fatally injured. The flight was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 in visual meteorological conditions; no flight plan was filed.
Aircraft and Equipment
The airplane, an experimental light sport (E-LSA) Aero Adventure Zephyr II, was operated by a private individual. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the pilot had previously removed pontoons from the airplane and installed a tricycle landing gear. To compensate for the resulting tail-heavy condition, the pilot typically used an elevator trim tab extension; however, for the accident takeoff, the extension was left in the hangar and not installed on the airplane.
Witness Account and Crash Sequence
A witness watching airplanes from behind the airport fence reported the accident to law enforcement. The witness observed the accident airplane take off normally and climb out, but then the left wing went straight up and the right wing dropped suddenly. The airplane then impacted the ground along the right side of the runway. During the takeoff roll on runway 27, as the airplane became airborne, it nosed over and impacted a grassy area between the runway and taxiway, coming to rest in a nose-down attitude.
Post-Accident Examination
Another FAA inspector examined the wreckage and confirmed flight control continuity from the cockpit control stick to all flight control surfaces. The engine was not started due to damage to the fuel bowl, but continuity throughout the engine was confirmed by rotating the propeller by hand.
Pilot Information
The 63-year-old pilot held a private pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land, airplane multiengine land, and instrument airplane, as well as an LSA repairman certificate. His most recent FAA third-class medical certificate was issued on October 27, 2003. A subsequent application on May 9, 2011, was deferred due to a history of coronary artery disease, hypertension, lymphoma, and diabetes. The pilot reported 2,500 hours of total flight experience. Pilot and aircraft logbooks were not recovered.
Medical and Toxicological Findings
An autopsy performed on September 21, 2011, by the University of Alabama Department of Pathology revealed: "Based on his clinical history and autopsy findings, he had an acute myocardial infarction leading to fatal arrhythmia, which likely led to the plane crash." Toxicological testing by the FAA Bioaeronautical Science Research Laboratory detected Metoprolol in urine and blood (cavity), Ticlopidine in urine and blood (cavity), glucose at 3000 mg/dl in urine (not detected in vitreous), and Hemoglobin A1C at 4.8% in blood (cavity).