What happened
On April 9, 2020, an experimental Arion Aircraft LLC Lightning LS-1, registration N81DJ, was involved in a fatal accident near Mount Pleasant Regional Airport-Faison Field (LRO) in South Carolina. The flight, conducted under Part 91 regulations for instructional purposes, departed Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR) at approximately 2011 EDT.
After receiving takeoff clearance and instructions to maintain visual flight rules (VFR), the pilot requested a descent into LRO. The crew intended to perform a touch-and-go landing at LRO before returning to MYR. During the approach, ADS-B data indicated the aircraft entered a descending left turn on final approach to runway 1t. The last recorded altitude was 525 feet MSL.
Following the flight, local law enforcement notified air traffic control that a witness had heard an aircraft engine sound that abruptly stopped near the airport. The aircraft subsequently struck 75- to 100-foot-tall trees located approximately 1,700 feet from the departure end of the runway. The 2 fatal injuries involved the student pilot and the flight instructor.
The investigation
An FAA inspector examined the wreckage, which was heavily fragmented, consistent with a high-energy impact. The aircraft's wings were separated from the main spar, and all primary flight control surfaces were found along a 250-foot debris path. The engine separated from the firewall but remained attached to the lower engine mounts.
Mechanical examination of the engine revealed no anomalies that would have prevented normal operation. While the top spark plugs were fractured due to impact, compression was established on all cylinders, and no internal engine defects were found. The fuel system could not be fully verified because both tanks were breached and the fuel selector valve was separated from the fuselage.
Autopsy results for both the student pilot and the flight instructor identified multiple blunt force injuries as the cause of death. While both individuals had moderate coronary artery disease, there was no evidence of an acute cardiac event. Toxicology reports were negative for impairing substances.