History of Flight
At 0709 central daylight time on August 23, 2014, an American Champion Aircraft 7GCBC, N254AC, was destroyed when it impacted terrain 5.5 miles northwest of Lago Vista, Texas. A postimpact fire ensued. The private pilot sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed; the flight operated without a flight plan. The local flight departed from Breakaway Park Airport (40XS), Cedar Park, Texas, around 0630.
A family member reported that the pilot routinely departed early on Saturday mornings to fly west of 40XS. Between 0700 and 0715, a witness near Lake Travis saw an airplane matching the accident airplane's description flying 25 feet above the lake. The airplane continued about 1.5 miles before pitching up into a climb and banking 30 degrees right. During the pitch-up, the witness heard an audible decrease in engine RPM and lost sight of the airplane as it continued west.
Around 0730, the North Travis Fire Department responded to a grass fire northwest of Lake Travis. During aerial fire suppression, personnel identified the airplane wreckage.
A GoPro video camera mounted to the airplane recorded the entire flight. The video showed the airplane flying low over water for several minutes, then a left turn over a field. At 0708:13, the airplane pitched up and began gaining altitude. At 0709:21, it pitched down into low altitude flight, with trees becoming visible underneath. At 0709:34, a shallow right bank began; at 0709:36, the camera deflected downward and the impact sequence started immediately. Powerlines were visible just before the camera deflection.
Personnel Information
The pilot, age 24, held a private pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine land rating. He was issued a third-class medical certificate without limitations on August 1, 2011.
A family member stated the pilot kept his flight log in a digital format on his smart phone, which was destroyed in the accident. Provided logs for the accident airplane from February 1, 2014, to July 12, 2014, indicated at least 38.5 hours in that airplane. On August 15, 2014, the pilot submitted total time of 248 hours, with 95 hours in the make and model, to the insurance company.
Endorsements included high performance (May 11, 2012), complex and tailwheel (July 1, 2012), and a flight review on November 29, 2013.
Aircraft Information
The accident airplane was an American Champion 7GCBC (serial number 1319-2001), manufactured in 2001, with red and white exterior and blue pinstripes. It had a standard airworthiness certificate for normal and aerobatic operations. Power came from a Lycoming engine rated at 160 hp at 2,700 rpm, equipped with a two-blade Sensenich propeller.
Maintenance was under an annual inspection program. The last annual inspection was completed on November 5, 2013, at an airframe total time of 527.6 hours.
Meteorological Information
A weather observation at Rusty Allen Airport (KRYW), 5 nm east of the accident site, at 0715 reported wind 180° at 3 knots, visibility 10 miles, scattered clouds at 900 feet, temperature 23°C, dew point 22°C, altimeter 30.05 inches. Sunrise was at 0703. The sun's azimuth was between 70° and 72°, altitude between -1° and 2°. The video showed the airplane flying toward the sun just before impact.
Wreckage and Impact Information
An impact point was at the top of a live oak tree, with fresh broken branches exhibiting red paint transfer and cuts consistent with propeller blade contact. Branches were scattered below and forward of the tree in the debris field. High tension powerlines were located just prior to the tree. Small red paint chips were found between the powerlines and the tree.
The debris field extended from the tree top on an approximate bearing of 073° for about 200 feet to a ground scar, then 90 feet to the main wreckage. Green lens fragments were found to the west/left of the ground scar's start.
The main wreckage consisted of the fuselage, empennage, both wings, and the engine and propeller assembly. The airplane came to rest inverted, nose oriented northeast. The entire airframe was charred, melted, and partially consumed by fire.
The fuselage included forward and aft seat frames, flight controls, instrument panel, and engine/propeller assembly. The engine partially separated and was crushed aft into the lower forward cabin. The instrument panel was destroyed by fire.
Both wings had charred, melted skin; leading edges showed impact damage. Fuel tanks were impact and fire damaged. Flight controls were continuous.
The empennage exhibited charring and melting; the top of the rudder and vertical stabilizer were bent. Control cables were continuous and correctly routed.
The engine remained partially attached; cowling and baffles were charred. The carburetor, airbox, and oil filter were impact and fire damaged. The propeller separated at the flange and was found adjacent to the engine. Both blades showed leading edge polishing, scoring, and scratches.
Flight Recorders
A GoPro Hero3+ was recovered and sent to the NTSB Vehicle Recorders Lab. An internal micro SD card contained the accident flight over five files. According to a family member, the camera was mounted externally on the top of the right wing strut, just below the wing bottom. The field of view did not include any part of the airplane. Engine and exhaust sounds are audible throughout. Departure time was given as 0630, and timestamps are calculated from that.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy performed on August 24, 2014, by the Travis County Office of the Medical Examiner concluded the cause of death as "blunt force injuries" and listed specific injuries. Toxicological tests by the FAA's Civil Aerospace Medical Institute were negative for all substances.