History of Flight
On June 8, 2014, about 1130 central daylight time, an experimental amateur-built airplane, N567CM, impacted terrain near Great Bend, Kansas. The private pilot and a passenger on board sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged. The local personal flight was conducted without a flight plan under Part 91 regulations. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated from Great Bend Municipal Airport (GBD) about 0930.
A line worker at the fixed base operator reported that the pilot requested fuel at 0846, and she added 4.7 gallons, topping the tank. The pilot was in a cheerful mood. Later, the pilot radioed to be placed on the maintenance list for a tire change, noting chords showing. He then made a departure call.
According to the pilot's family, he sent a text at 1004 stating arrival in Lucas, Kansas, about 46 nm north-northeast of GBD. Another text at 1013 indicated plans to meet for lunch. No response was received after 1223.
A witness reported hearing an airplane north of him about 1130. He saw it flying at 200-300 ft agl, coming out of a cloud bank, attempting to climb at a 45-degree angle. Later, he saw it in a 45-degree nose-down pitch descending and impacting the ground. The engine sounded weak, and the pilot appeared to be trying to pull up.
Aircraft and Pilot Information
The pilot, age 49, held a private pilot certificate with single-engine land and instrument ratings. He had 1,528 total flight hours, with 153 hours in the accident airplane. He flew 30 hours in the preceding 90 days. He held a valid second-class medical certificate with a corrective lenses limitation and completed a flight review on February 4, 2013.
The amateur-built airplane, serial number 045, was a tandem two-place, high wing, single-engine design, originally certificated experimental in 1997. It was powered by a Lycoming O-290-G carbureted 4-cylinder engine rated at 125 horsepower. Estimated fuel consumption was 10.5-11 gallons per hour at normal cruise.
A review of available engine logbooks showed an annual condition inspection on May 2, 2009, at tachometer time 392.8 hours. The tachometer at the accident site read 492.64 hours. Other recent logbooks were not located.
Meteorological Conditions
At 1135, the automated weather observation at GBD (6 miles south of the accident) reported wind from 120 degrees at 8 knots, overcast ceiling at 1,200 ft, visibility 9 miles, temperature 64°F, dew point 57°F, and altimeter 30.06 inHg.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The airplane impacted in a corn stubble field about 6 miles north of GBD. The impact scar was 16 inches deep, with impressions from the top wing and landing gear. Debris spanned about 122 feet to the main wreckage, which consisted of the top wing, cockpit area, landing gear, engine, propeller, aft fuselage, empennage, and tailwheel. The airplane rested upright, oriented 160 degrees from the impact scar.
The top wing was broken at struts and crushed aft; ailerons remained attached. The cowling and cockpit were broken downward and aft. The main landing gear were bent and broken aft. The engine was broken downward and aft. A fuel tank behind the engine was crushed and broken, with no fuel smell. Both propeller blades were broken aft without rotational rubs. Windscreens were broken. Flight control continuity was confirmed.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy was performed on the pilot. FAA toxicology tests on the pilot's specimens were negative for all tested substances.
Tests and Research
Examination of the engine revealed no anomalies that would have prevented power production. Reconstruction of the fuel tank confirmed a volume of 4,172 cubic inches (18.06 gallons). Based on fuel consumption, the airplane could fly for about 1 hour and 42 minutes.