Accident Overview
On September 12, 2021, at about 0930 eastern daylight time, an American Champion Aircraft 8KCAB, registration N390PE, sustained substantial damage after impacting trees near Rhine, Georgia. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained fatal injuries. The flight was being conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight.
Witness Account
A witness, who was a friend of the pilot, reported that earlier in the day, the pilot had told him he felt dizzy, nauseous, and vomited while practicing aerobatics. The pilot landed at a private airstrip and subsequently departed to fly to a nearby field where the witness was located, intending to look for birds. While the witness was in the field, the pilot "buzzed" him and then flew around for a second pass. During this second pass, the pilot descended the airplane below the tree line and initiated an aileron roll. Approximately halfway through the roll, the pilot abruptly stopped the maneuver, and the airplane flew straight into the trees at full engine power.
Aircraft Damage
The airplane came to rest oriented on a magnetic heading of 220°, with all major components located at the accident site. The fuselage, from the firewall to the empennage, exhibited accordion crush and impact damage. The instrument panel and cockpit were destroyed. Both wings had separated from the fuselage, while the horizontal and vertical stabilizers remained attached to the empennage, showing impact damage. Flight control continuity was established from the control surfaces to the cockpit controls. The propeller was splintered and broken, with fresh cuts consistent with propeller slash marks found on several trees. Examination of the flight controls and engine revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Toxicology and Medical Records
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation Division of Forensic Sciences performed the pilot's autopsy. According to the autopsy report, the cause of death was multiple blunt impact injuries, and the manner of death was accident. The FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory conducted toxicological testing on specimens from the pilot, identifying only tadalafil in cavity blood and liver. Tadalafil (marketed as Cialis) is a prescription medication used for erectile dysfunction, and may also be used for symptoms of an enlarged prostate or to reduce high blood pressure in the lungs. According to reviewed primary care records, the pilot visited his primary care provider five days before the accident, on September 7, 2021, for sore throat and fever. No complaints of cough, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, or other symptoms apart from sore throat and fever were noted.