History of Flight
On September 7, 2014, at approximately 1545 central daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Cismowski Tierra II, N622MC, impacted terrain near the Montevideo-Chippewa County Airport (MVE) in Montevideo, Minnesota. The local flight was originating from MVE at the time of the accident. A witness reported that after takeoff, the airplane climbed to 200-300 feet above ground level, then leveled off, began a left turn, and suddenly the right wing went "straight up." The airplane then "did a 1/2 turn" and descended straight down into a soybean field about half a mile south of MVE.
Pilot Information
The 52-year-old private pilot held a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) third-class medical certificate issued June 26, 2007, with a limitation for corrective lenses. On his application, he reported 150 total flight hours and 5 hours in the previous six months. No records of recent flight time or currency were found.
Aircraft Information
N622MC was an experimental amateur-built Cismowski Tierra II, two-place, single-engine, high-wing airplane (serial number 622020), powered by a Rotax 582 engine. Its empty weight was 383.5 pounds, with a gross weight of 800.75 pounds. The airplane arrived at MVE in spring 2014 on a trailer after sitting in a hangar for four to five years. Maintenance completed between June and September 2014 included installation of new bolts at wing and strut attach points, and installation of rudder, elevator, and stabilator with new bolts. The engine was test-run for 30 minutes. The owner noted upgrades (new covering, thicker front spars, closer rib spacing) done before storage. A condition inspection was incomplete, with a weight and balance update pending.
Meteorological Information
At 1554, weather at MVE recorded wind from 230 degrees at 10 knots gusting to 14 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, clear sky, temperature 27°C, dew point 11°C, altimeter 30.00 inches of mercury.
Wreckage and Impact Information
An FAA inspector found substantial damage: extensive nose and forward fuselage damage, outer four to five feet of left wing leading edge damage, consistent with nose and left wing low impact. Two propeller blades were broken near the hub. About one-quarter cup of fuel drained from the fuel line, appearing clean and blue/green (consistent with two-cycle engine oil mix). Flight control continuity was confirmed to all surfaces, and both cylinders had compression. No preimpact failure of structure, engine, propeller, or controls was observed.
Weight and Balance
The airplane's calculated useful load was 417.25 pounds. The passenger's driver's license listed his weight as 290 pounds, and the pilot's autopsy weight was 274 pounds, totaling 564 pounds—146.75 pounds over the placarded gross weight, not including fuel.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy listed multiple traumatic injuries as the cause of death for the pilot. Toxicology testing detected tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and its metabolite in the pilot's lung, liver, blood, and urine. The pilot's medical certificate was no longer valid after June 31, 2009, but the aircraft met light sport criteria, so no certificate was required. The pilot's heart was enlarged but without coronary artery disease.
No probable cause was determined in this summary.