History of Flight
On September 3, 2012, at an undetermined time, a Skykits USA Corp Savannah ADV, registration N9764J, collided with terrain near Murtaugh, Idaho. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot had indicated to family members that he intended to fly to his mountain ranch property to check on cattle following a fire. When he did not return, the family reported him overdue, and the FAA issued an Alert Notice (ALNOT). The Cassia County Sheriff reported that the wreckage was discovered about 2030 MDT. The local personal flight had departed Twin Falls, Idaho, about 1200. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.
Personnel Information
A review of FAA airman records revealed that the 81-year-old pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land and instrument airplane. He held a third-class medical certificate issued on January 7, 2010, with the limitation that he must wear corrective lenses. The medical certificate had expired, but he was operating a light-sport airplane. No personal flight records were located. The pilot reported on his medical application a total time of 3,000 hours with 11 hours logged in the last 6 months.
Aircraft Information
The single-engine, high-wing airplane was a Skykits USA Corporation Savannah ADV, serial number 07-07-51-621. A review of the airplane's logbooks revealed a total airframe time of 300.1 hours at the last engine maintenance (an oil change) on August 12, 2012. The last annual inspection was on June 1, 2012, at a total airframe time of 276.6 hours. The engine was a 100-horsepower ROTAX 912 ULS, serial number 5649340, with a total time of 276.6 hours at the last annual conditional inspection. The operating limitations state that the maximum ceiling is about 14,000 feet pressure altitude at maximum weight. However, if the pilot is operating under sport pilot privileges, FAR Part 61.315 (C) (11) restricts the airplane to 10,000 feet msl, or 2,000 feet above ground level, whichever is higher.
Meteorological Information
The closest official weather observation station was Twin Falls, Idaho (KTWF), located 21 nautical miles northwest of the accident site at an elevation of 4,154 feet msl. An aviation routine weather report (METAR) issued at 1153 MDT indicated wind from 030 degrees at 5 knots, visibility 10 miles, sky clear, temperature 23°C, dew point -1°C, and altimeter 30.16 inches of mercury. The elevation of the accident site was approximately 7,115 feet. Using a dry adiabatic lapse rate, the accident site temperature was estimated at 67°F with a dew point of 21°F. Using a pressure differential, the calculated density altitude was 12,495 feet.
Wreckage and Impact Information
An FAA inspector examined the wreckage on scene. The airplane came to rest nose down in a stand of willow trees in a marshy area. Only the trees in the immediate area of the wreckage had broken branches. The cabin area was crushed aft, and the leading edges of the wings were in contact with the ground. The fuselage buckled 90 degrees aft of the cabin so that the empennage was in a horizontal upright position. Control continuity was established for the rudder and elevators to the crushed cabin area; the ailerons remained connected.
Medical and Pathological Information
The Cassia County Coroner completed an autopsy and found blunt force trauma as the cause of death. Toxicological testing performed by the FAA Forensic Toxicology Research Team showed no findings for carbon monoxide, cyanide, or volatiles. The report contained the following findings for tested drugs: amlodipine detected in urine and blood (cavity); metoprolol detected in liver and blood (cavity).
Tests and Research
The NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC), the FAA, and a ROTAX investigator examined the wreckage at the owner's hangar on October 31, 2012. The postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.