History of Flight
On January 26, 2015, about 1250 Pacific standard time, an amateur built experimental Alexander RV7 airplane, registration N747BA, impacted the water of the Hood Canal near Seabeck, Washington. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under 14 CFR Part 91. The airline transport rated pilot, the sole occupant, is missing and is presumed to be fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight, which originated from Tacoma Narrows Airport (TIW) in Gig Harbor, Washington, at 1236.
Witnesses located near the accident site reported observing an airplane "spinning out of control" as it descended toward the water. One witness stated that the airplane broke apart as it descended out of their sight behind a stand of trees.
Pilot Information
The pilot, age 65, held an airline transport pilot certificate with airplane single-engine land and multi-engine land ratings. A third-class airman medical certificate was issued on February 12, 2013, with the limitation "Must Wear Corrective Lenses & Possess Glasses for Near & Intermediate Vision." According to his personal logbook, the pilot had accumulated 16,126.7 total flight hours as of the most recent entry on January 20, 2015. He had logged 96.9 hours in the accident make/model airplane, including 5.7 hours in the previous 90 days and 3 hours in the previous 30 days.
Aircraft Information
The two-seat, low-wing, fixed-gear tailwheel equipped experimental amateur built airplane, serial number 70263, was completed in 2013. It was powered by an Aerosport IO-360-B1CD2 engine and equipped with a Hartzell HC-C2YR-1BFP variable pitch propeller. Airframe logbook records show the most recent conditional inspection was completed on May 8, 2014, at an airframe total time of 62.3 hours.
Meteorological Information
Recorded data from the Bremerton National Airport (PWT) automated weather observation station, located about 11 miles southeast of the accident site, indicated conditions at 1155: wind from 180 degrees at 6 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, clear sky, temperature 12°C, dew point 10°C, and an altimeter setting of 29.96 inches of mercury.
Wreckage and Recovery
Local law enforcement reported that wreckage debris consistent with the accident airplane was located floating on the water surface and was recovered by the United States Coast Guard. The debris recovered included a portion of the engine cowling, seat cushions, and interior panels of the airplane. As of the report, the main wreckage had not been located. Water depths in the vicinity of the accident site ranged from 500 to 600 feet.
Radar Data
Review of radar data provided by the Federal Aviation Administration revealed a primary target, consistent with the accident airplane, that originated from TIW and traveled in a northwesterly heading for about 7 minutes while ascending to 5,900 feet mean sea level (msl). The data depicted a right turn to a north-northwesterly heading, continuing an ascent to 6,700 feet msl about 1 minute later. Subsequently, a descent to 5,700 feet msl was observed 13 seconds later, with an increase in ground speed from 167 knots to 198 knots. The data then showed a climb to 6,500 feet msl over 37 seconds, followed by a descent to 4,500 feet 9 seconds later. A right turn to a northerly heading and a climb to 7,000 feet msl occurred over about 2 minutes. The last recorded radar target was located about 1 mile southwest of the recovered debris at an altitude of 7,000 feet msl.