History of Flight
On May 22, 2018, about 0930 central daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Zenith 601, N622DP, collided with trees and impacted terrain after takeoff from Bolivar Municipal Airport (M17), Bolivar, Missouri. The private pilot was fatally injured, and the airplane was destroyed. The airplane was owned by the pilot and operated under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The local personal flight originated about 0925.
A witness reported that the airplane was flying low above the trees, with the nose moving up and down about 50 feet above the trees. The witness stated the engine produced a steady tone with no unusual noises.
The accident site was located about 0.75 mile south of M17 between the 16th and 18th holes at the Silo Ridge Golf and Country Club.
Personnel Information
The 87-year-old pilot held a private pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine land rating and a BasicMed certificate. He reported approximately 1,662 hours of flight experience, of which about 507 hours were in the Zenith 601. The pilot also held three repairman experimental aircraft builder certificates.
Aircraft Information
The airplane was constructed by the pilot from a kit and received a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certificate of airworthiness on June 21, 2007. It was powered by a Continental C85-12 engine, serial number 26363-6-12, rated at 85 horsepower, driving a Sensenich 2-blade, fixed pitch, wooden propeller, model number 68X54R. The Hobbs meter indicated 506.5 hours.
Meteorological Information
At 0930, weather reported at Springfield-Branson National Airport (SGF), about 21 miles south of the accident site, included wind calm, visibility 85 miles, ceiling 400 feet broken, temperature 22°C, dew point 21°C, and altimeter setting 30.08 inches of mercury.
Wreckage and Impact Information
Examination of the accident site showed evidence consistent with the airplane striking the tops of trees on a magnetic heading of about 140°, descending in a nose-down attitude, and impacting terrain. The horizontal stabilizer was twisted 180° and showed tree strike damage. The leading edge of the right wing had numerous indentations from tree strikes, and a tree branch was embedded in the right main landing gear wheel pant. Broken tree branches were scattered on the ground. Flight control continuity was confirmed, and the shattered wooden propeller displayed evidence consistent with rotation at impact.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy of the pilot was not performed. The pilot's death certificate listed the cause of death as blunt force trauma. The FAA's Bioaeronautical Science Research Laboratory performed toxicology testing, which detected no ethanol or drugs. Cyanide and carbon monoxide testing were not performed.