History of Flight
On October 28, 2012, about 1710 central daylight time, a Hornet experimental light sport airplane (E-LSA), registration N2482J, impacted a rice field near Mont Belvieu, Texas. The private pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage and a post-impact fire consumed a majority of the fuselage and left wing. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and the flight operated without a flight plan. The local flight originated from Baytown, Texas, at an unknown time.
A witness driving a tractor reported that the airplane flew low across a field, passed overhead, and the occupants smiled and waved. The witness estimated the airplane's speed at about 40 miles per hour. The airplane flew south toward power lines, climbed to avoid them, and began a turn. It was about 100 feet above the ground before descending in a nose-down attitude. The witness reported gusty wind at the time.
Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any preimpact anomalies with the airplane.
Personnel Information
The pilot, age 52, held a private pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single-engine land. He was issued a third-class medical certificate on August 31, 2011, with the restriction that he must have glasses available for near vision. On his medical certificate application, the pilot reported 378 hours of total flight time, with 150 hours in the preceding six months. His logbook was not located during the investigation. The pilot purchased the airplane on October 17, 2012, and his flight experience in the make and model could not be determined.
Aircraft Information
The airplane was manufactured in 2000 by US Light Aircraft Corporation. Its airworthiness certificate was issued in October 2007 in the E-LSA category. The Hornet is a single-engine, high-wing, tandem two-seat, fixed-gear airplane. It was powered by a 65-horsepower Hirch 2706 engine in a pusher configuration driving a four-blade composite propeller. The Hornet's stall speed is reported to be between 35 and 40 mph.
Meteorological Information
At 1650, an automated weather station at Ellington Field (KEFD), Houston, Texas, about 18.5 nautical miles southwest of the accident site, reported wind from 330 degrees at 11 knots, 10 miles visibility, clear sky, temperature 66°F, dew point 32°F, and barometric pressure 30.14 inches of mercury. An amateur weather station near the accident site (KTXMONTB1) reported wind from the northwest at 2 mph gusting to 11 mph, consistent with the witness statement.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy conducted on the pilot by Forensic Medical Management Services ruled the cause of death as blunt force injuries and the manner of death as an accident. Forensic toxicology performed by the FAA Bioaeronautical Research Laboratory was negative for carbon monoxide, cyanide, ethanol, and drugs.