History of Flight
On October 3, 2021, at 1000 central daylight time, an unregistered Tandem Air-Bike was destroyed when it impacted terrain near Warrensburg, Missouri. The accident occurred during a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. Both occupants were fatally injured.
The front-seat uncertificated pilot had recently purchased the aircraft and asked the rear-seat private pilot to teach him how to fly. The aircraft departed from a private airstrip and flew north. When about 200 ft above ground level, it turned left toward the south. After climbing to about 500 ft and flying about ½ to 1 mile, it turned left again. During the turn, the left wing dropped. The aircraft descended and impacted the ground. A witness reported the engine was operating.
Personnel Information
The front-seat pilot did not hold a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) pilot certificate.
The rear-seat pilot held a private pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine landing rating. His FAA airman medical certificate was expired. He did not hold an FAA flight instructor certificate.
Aircraft Information
The aircraft did not meet the definition of Part 103 Ultralight Vehicles because its gross weight exceeded 254 lbs, fuel capacity exceeded 5 gallons, and it was configured for more than one occupant. The aircraft was not registered, nor did it have an airworthiness certificate, identifying serial number, or data plate. It was equipped with front and rear seat controls.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The airplane impacted an area of trees in a field, coming to rest in a nose-down attitude. Ground scarring was present beneath the wreckage. Impact damage was consistent with a low-speed impact with terrain. Postaccident examination confirmed flight control continuity and revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Medical and Pathological Information
Front-Seat Uncertificated Pilot: Autopsy attributed death to multiple blunt force trauma, manner accident. No significant natural disease. Acute methamphetamine intoxication was an additional pathologic diagnosis. Toxicology by AXIS Forensic Toxicology at the medical examiner's request identified ethanol at 0.028 gm/dl, methamphetamine at 3,249 ng/ml, and amphetamine at 272 ng/ml in cavity blood. FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory testing found ethanol at 0.025 gm/dl in cavity blood and 0.016 mg/hg in liver; methamphetamine at 2,533 ng/ml in cavity blood and 8,219 ng/gm in liver; amphetamine at 191 ng/ml in cavity blood and 738 ng/gm in liver.
Rear-Seat Certificated Pilot: Autopsy attributed death to multiple blunt force trauma, manner accident. The heart showed left ventricular hypertrophy and kidneys showed nephrosclerosis, usually consequences of high blood pressure. Toxicology by AXIS identified oxycodone at 132 ng/ml in subclavian blood. FAA laboratory testing identified oxycodone at 222 ng/ml in cavity blood, 492 ng/ml in gastric fluid, 100 ng/gm in liver; its metabolite oxymorphone in gastric fluid. Also present: hydroxychloroquine, carvedilol, losartan in cavity blood, gastric fluid, and liver; acetaminophen in liver and muscle; terbinafine in cavity blood, gastric fluid, and liver. The last two are not generally considered impairing.