History of Flight
On August 7, 2019, at about 1329 Pacific daylight time, an amateur-built experimental Express 2000 airplane, registration N43FD, was substantially damaged when it crashed near Camarillo, California. The private pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The flight was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
The flight originated at South Valley Regional Airport (U42) in Salt Lake City, Utah. The pilot refueled at Tonopah Airport (TPH) in Tonopah, Nevada, then proceeded to Camarillo Airport (CMA) in Camarillo, California. According to the CMA tower controller, the pilot established radio contact 5 miles north of the airport. The controller instructed the pilot to make right traffic for runway 26 and subsequently to turn onto a 3-mile base leg. The controller last saw the airplane on a 2-mile final approach, followed shortly thereafter by a dust cloud.
A flight instructor flying in a helicopter at the time stated he saw the accident airplane about 40 feet above the ground on short final enter an aerodynamic stall and impact the ground. The student pilot onboard the helicopter reported the airplane pitched up, entered a descending right bank, and subsequently impacted the ground.
Pilot Information
The pilot held a private pilot certificate with an instrument airplane rating. His most recent application for an FAA third-class medical certificate was on July 5, 2018. At that time, he reported 1,395 total hours of flight experience, of which 15 were in the preceding 6 months. The pilot’s logbook was not located.
Aircraft Information
The low-wing, fixed-gear airplane was issued an FAA experimental airworthiness certificate on March 27, 2002. It was powered by a Continental IO-550-N1B 310-hp engine, serial number 685820. A review of the airplane's logbooks showed that a condition inspection was completed on April 26, 2019, at a recorded tachometer reading of 142.7 hours. At the time of the accident, the airplane had accumulated 29.4 hours since that inspection.
Meteorological Information
The recorded weather observation at CMA at 1355 included wind from 240° at 9 knots, 10 miles visibility, clear sky, temperature 23°C, dew point 16°C, and an altimeter setting of 29.95 inches of mercury.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The airplane impacted the ground about 750 feet short of the runway and about 100 feet north of the displaced threshold. The debris field extended about 130 feet in a southeast-to-northwest orientation. The first identified point of impact was ground scarring containing composite fragments from the right-wing tip. The main wreckage comprised the fuselage, empennage, engine, and both wings.
The cabin area was mostly destroyed. Elevator, rudder, and aileron continuity was confirmed. Flight control torque tubes and control cables either remained attached or were broken under tension overload. The fuel selector was found on the right tank position. The mixture control was full forward. The throttle and propeller controls were broken.
The empennage remained attached to the fuselage with impact damage. The elevator remained attached to the horizontal stabilizer, and the elevator trim was near neutral. The rudder remained attached with no anomalies noted.
The left wing remained attached with crushing near the leading edge and wing tip. The aileron remained attached; its trim tab was bent underneath the wing. The flap separated from the fuselage and was found under the wing. The fuel cap was secured. The wet wing fuel cell was breached; about 2 gallons of residual fuel were drained during recovery.
The right wing remained partially attached, rotated upward about 90°. The leading edge and wing tip displayed extensive crushing. The aileron remained attached. The flap separated and was found within about 10 feet of the main wreckage. The fuel cap was secured; about 1 gallon of residual fuel was drained from the breached cell.
The engine separated from the firewall and was found next to the fuselage. All six cylinders remained attached with impact damage. The starter, air filter, air pump shear drive, and propeller separated and were found within the debris field. The engine-driven fuel pump remained attached with damage to the adjustment screw and lock nut. The fuel mixture arm and damaged control cable remained attached. The propeller governor was impact damaged.
The propeller, located about 75 feet north of the initial impact point, exhibited compound bending, twisting, leading-edge gouging, and chordwise rotational abrasion, consistent with the engine producing power at impact.
Examination of the airframe and engine revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Medical and Pathological Information
The Ventura County Medical Examiner Office conducted the pilot's autopsy and attributed the cause of death to multiple blunt force injuries. The FAA's Forensic Sciences Laboratory performed toxicological testing, which was negative for carbon monoxide and volatiles. Testing was positive for Amlodipine, a prescription medication for high blood pressure, and Tamsulosin, a prescription medication for enlarged prostate symptoms.