History of Flight
On July 11, 2020, at about 1647 eastern daylight time, a Golden Circle Air T-Bird Tandem TBT-06 airplane, registration N50JH, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain near Grosse Ile, Michigan. The pilot was fatally injured. The flight was conducted as a personal flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
A witness, a helicopter pilot preparing for takeoff at Grosse Ile Municipal Airport (ONZ), reported observing the airplane taxi out from between hangars around 1600 and begin its takeoff roll south on taxiway C. The pilot did not make a radio call. The helicopter pilot aborted his takeoff and hovered to watch. He noted the airport reported wind from the northwest at greater than 20 knots. Due to a strong quartering tailwind, the airplane yawed about 30° to the right upon liftoff and drifted right, striking a taxiway marker light on the west side of taxiway C near the intersection with taxiway E. The airplane continued departure on a heading of about 210°, then the helicopter pilot lost sight.
Another witness, about 2 miles north of the airport at 1637, received a call from his brother stating the airplane was overhead flying southbound. Minutes later, the witness saw the airplane at 300–400 ft above ground level (agl) with a 20° right crab angle. Only one occupant was visible, seated in the front. Landing gear was down, engine rpm constant, and the airplane appeared to be descending slowly.
A third witness near the accident site, about 1/2 mile south of the airport, observed the airplane at 200–300 ft agl over a residential area. He reported increasing wind, difficulty gaining altitude, and instability. He stated winds were around 15 mph at ground level with possible stronger gusts higher up; the airplane was unstable when banking south, and the engine sounded strained, reaching full throttle at one point.
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors were told by Grosse Ile Police that witnesses near the accident site reported hearing the engine sputtering and making a revving sound. One witness saw the right wing impact a tree in a neighbor's yard. The airplane came to rest inverted at the base of the tree.
Personnel Information
No evidence was found that the pilot had received formal flight training. He did not hold an FAA pilot certificate. According to the pilot’s son, this was likely the pilot’s second or third flight in the airplane.
Aircraft Information
FAA inspectors interviewed the pilot's son, who stated that he and his father researched airplanes to own together. They located the airplane in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. While the son was out of town, the father drove to North Carolina, purchased the airplane, and trucked it home. The son reassembled it. On the accident day, the father flew without telling the family. According to FAA inspectors, the pilot and his son believed they were buying an ultralight aircraft, not a certificated airplane.
Meteorological Information
Wind conditions recorded around the accident time were from 290° to 320° at 9 to 14 knots, with the highest gust of 22 knots recorded at 1515.
Wreckage and Impact Information
FAA inspectors examined the wreckage and found both wings and the fuselage crushed aft. The front-seat control stick was disconnected from the control system; it was not seated in the socket attaching to the control bellcrank assembly. The socket was undeformed, and the retaining bolt was missing and not located. The bolt holes showed no deformation or stress. The rear-seat control stick was properly restrained.
First responders reported gas draining from the airplane and the electric fuel pump still operating audibly. FAA inspectors found the fuel line separated from the fuel tank bottom on impact; only a small quantity of fuel remained. Other fuel lines were intact and contained fuel. The fuel strainer was full. Fuel samples from the strainer and tank bottom were clear with no visible water or contaminants. Engine examination revealed no preimpact anomalies that would have precluded normal operations.
Medical and Pathological Information
According to the autopsy report from the Wayne County Medical Examiner, the pilot’s death was caused by multiple injuries sustained in the accident. Moderate stenosis in the left anterior descending coronary artery (50%) and moderate atherosclerosis of the aorta were noted, but no significant natural disease was identified.
Toxicology testing detected amphetamine (440 ng/mL), diazepam (280 ng/mL), and nordiazepam (290 ng/mL) in peripheral blood. Urine screened positive for amphetamine and benzodiazepines. FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory testing detected amphetamine (315 ng/mL in cavity blood), diazepam (268 ng/mL), nordiazepam (330 ng/mL), oxazepam, citalopram (33 ng/mL), and its active metabolite in cavity blood and urine. Diphenhydramine was detected in urine but not cavity blood.