History of Flight
On July 28, 2014, about 1000 eastern daylight time, a Temco GC-1B, registration N1CY, impacted a swamp shortly after departure from Flying-A-Ranch Airport (FL84) in Yulee, Florida. The flight was personal and conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot was the sole occupant. An eyewitness reported observing the airplane depart on runway 5, noting that the engine rpm were low but steady. At about 200 feet above ground level, the airplane banked left, stalled, and descended out of view.
Personnel Information
The pilot held an airline transport pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land, multiengine land, and single-engine sea, as well as a flight instructor certificate with ratings for airplane single- and multiengine, and instrument airplane. He held a first-class medical certificate issued on May 8, 2014, with a limitation requiring corrective lenses. At that time, he reported 30,000 total flight hours, with 75 hours in the previous six months. No pilot logs were located.
Aircraft Information
The airplane was manufactured in 1948 and registered to the pilot/owner in 1980. It was equipped with a Continental Motors O-300-A 145-hp engine. The most recent annual inspection was completed on June 8, 2014, at which time the airframe had accumulated 2,934.8 hours.
Airport Information
Flying-A-Ranch Airport is a privately-owned airport without a control tower. It has one turf runway, designated 5/23, measuring 2,000 feet long by 100 feet wide. A 25-foot-tall tree was located 650 feet from the departure end of runway 5. The airport elevation is approximately 25 feet above mean sea level. The runway condition was not reported.
Meteorological Information
The 0955 recorded weather observation at Fernandina Beach Municipal Airport, about 6 miles northeast, included wind from 260° at 7 knots gusting to 14 knots, visibility 10 miles, clear sky, temperature 30°C, dew point 24°C, and barometric pressure 29.97 inches of mercury.
Wreckage and Impact
The airplane impacted terrain in a marshy area about 0.2 nautical miles from the departure end of runway 5. It came to rest partially submerged. Examination confirmed flight control continuity to all surfaces. The main fuel tank was about three-quarters full, the auxiliary tank nearly empty. Fuel samples were free of debris or water. The fuel selector was positioned to the main tank. Throttle and mixture controls were full forward; carburetor heat was off. The engine exhibited continuity, compression on all cylinders, and normal spark plug wear. Magnetos sparked normally. The carburetor contained about 4 ounces of brown water, with corrosion and rust at the bottom, similar to swamp water. No other anomalies were noted.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy performed on July 29, 2014, listed multiple blunt force injuries as the cause of death. The heart was enlarged (475 grams) with hypertensive heart disease, left ventricular and septal measurements above average. Mild coronary artery disease with up to 30% stenosis was present, but no acute infarct or thrombosis. Patchy mild myocardial fibrosis and cirrhosis of the liver were also identified. Toxicological tests detected no ethanol or drugs.
Additional Information
A carburetor icing probability chart from FAA SAIB CE-09-35 indicated potential for icing at cruise/glide engine power settings given the temperature and dew point at the time.