History of Flight
On June 1, 2012, at 1059 Pacific daylight time, an experimental Westcott Prowler Jaguar, registration N125CW, impacted terrain shortly after takeoff from runway 26 at Salinas Municipal Airport, Salinas, California. The airplane was operated by the owner/builder under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed.
Witnesses reported observing the airplane accelerate down runway 26. Immediately after becoming airborne, the nose pitched up, the airplane stalled, rolled, and pitched down, then struck the ground nose first. A post-crash fire ensued. Witnesses stated they could hear the engine operating up to the moment of impact.
Personnel Information
The pilot, age 73, held an airline transport pilot certificate with multiengine land and commercial single-engine land privileges. He possessed a third-class medical certificate issued February 8, 2012, with a limitation requiring corrective lenses. On his medical application, he reported 20,000 total flight hours and 75 hours in the previous six months. His logbook was not located for examination.
Aircraft Information
The experimental category, tandem-seat, low-wing airplane with retractable landing gear, serial number 0012, was manufactured in 2007. It was powered by a Rodeck V8 engine rated at 350 horsepower. Maintenance records were not available for review.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The wreckage came to rest on the south side of runway 26 near taxiway D. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the site and reported that all flight control surfaces were present. The airplane was largely consumed by the post-crash fire.
Airport surveillance cameras captured the final seconds of flight. Camera 7, located on the south side near the approach end of runway 26, showed the airplane climbing at approximately a 30° angle at 1058:45, exiting the frame at 1058:47. It reentered at 1058:49 in an extreme nose-down attitude and impacted terrain at 1058:54, followed immediately by a fireball.
Camera 9, on the north side, observed the airplane entering the frame at 1058:52 in a nose-low attitude with the left wing pointing toward the ground. The airplane rolled about 90° to the left and struck the ground inverted, nose first, two seconds later, with a fireball ensuing.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy performed on June 4, 2012, by the Monterey County Forensic Pathologist concluded that the pilot most likely died suddenly from coronary artery atherosclerosis (heart attack due to hardening and narrowing of arteries supplying the heart muscle). No rapidly fatal injuries from the crash were observed.
Toxicology testing by the FAA's Forensic Toxicology Research Team found no carbon monoxide, cyanide, ethanol, or listed drugs in the specimens.