What happened
On September 30, 2012, at approximately 1630 mountain standard time, an experimental Air Creation Tanarg weight-shift control airplane, N2751N, struck the ground about 38 nautical miles north of Safford, Arizona, on the San Carlos Indian Reservation. The flight was a cross-country trip from Safford Regional Airport (SAD) to Show Low Regional Airport (SOW).
At the time of the accident, the pilot was flying in loose formation with a family member in a similar aircraft. The trailing pilot observed the accident aircraft descend to approximately 400 feet above ground level. The pilot of N2751N transmitted via radio that increasing winds were causing the airplane to turn abruptly and indicated a possible intent to land or abort the flight. Shortly after this transmission, the aircraft entered a descending right turn and impacted the terrain at an elevation of 5,050 feet mean sea level.
The pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained 1 fatal injury. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The investigation
Mechanical examination of the wreckage revealed that the aircraft had been modified with a non-standard 12.5-meter wing, replacing the standard 15-meter wing approximately one month prior to the accident. There were no entries in the aircraft logbooks regarding this wing replacement. Additionally, the trim actuator was found extended to nearly its full length, placing the wing in a full forward position.
An engine test run showed the engine started and ran smoothly, though a fuel leak was observed at the attachment area of the fuel inlet line and the engine-driven fuel pump. The wing assembly showed internal structural damage from the impact.
Postmortem toxicological analysis of the pilot's blood and urine detected the presence of tetrahydrocannabinol (marijuana).