History of Flight
On March 15, 2015, at 1815 eastern daylight time, an experimental light sport Kolb Twinstar MK-II, N193Y, impacted terrain near Reynolds, Georgia. The student pilot was fatally injured. The flight was local, personal, destined for Thomaston-Upson County Airport (OPN), under Part 91. A witness, related to the pilot, reported the airplane flew oval patterns over her house, then proceeded west, flew close to pine trees, appeared to hover, then pitched nose down and turned right, impacting in a nose-down attitude. She stated the engine was running and did not sputter or stop.
Personnel Information
The pilot held a student pilot certificate with endorsements for Cessna 172 solo and solo cross-country. His most recent third-class medical certificate was issued July 1, 2014. He had about 25 total flight hours, with none in the accident make and model. He purchased the airplane in September 2012, and first soloed in it on January 6, 2013, per a souvenir shirt.
Aircraft Information
The Kolb Twinstar MK-II was a two-seat, high-wing, tailwheel airplane powered by a 47-hp Rotax 503 DCSI engine with a three-blade fixed-pitch propeller. Built in 2007, it lacked a stall warning system (not required). Its last condition inspection was June 29, 2012, at 252 total airframe hours and 105 engine hours. Since then, it had accrued an additional 250 hours.
Meteorological Information
The 1815 recorded weather at OPN, 28 nm northwest of the accident site, included visibility 10 statute miles, sky clear below 10,000 feet, and calm wind.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The airplane came to rest nose-down with the wing leading edge on the ground. No ground scars were found leading to the wreckage. Flight control continuity was established. An undetermined amount of blue fluid, consistent with 100LL fuel, was found throughout the fuel system. Oily substance was on the engine and empennage, but no preaccident engine malfunctions were evident.
Additional Information
A handheld GPS receiver was recovered and examined. It recorded two flight legs: first from OPN to Butler Municipal Airport (6A1) departing 1647, landing about 50 minutes later; second departing 6A1 at 1753, maneuvering easterly then south toward Reynolds. Recording ended at 1813, about 1.5 miles northeast of the accident site, at GPS altitude 725 feet, groundspeed 48 knots.
Medical and Pathological Information
Autopsy by Georgia Bureau of Investigation listed cause of death as multiple blunt impact injuries. Toxicological testing by FAA was negative for carbon monoxide, ethanol, and drugs.