Flight History
On August 15, 2022, about 0630 mountain daylight time, an Aviat Aircraft Inc. A-1A, N26HV, was substantially damaged in an accident near Yellow Pine, Idaho. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
A witness camping at Johnson Creek Airport (3U2) reported observing the accident airplane taxiing to runway 35. Due to cool weather, he returned to his tent. He heard the engine rpm rise, consistent with a runup, and then heard the airplane take off, followed shortly by a sound similar to a "door slamming shut." Between 1030 and 1045, the witness departed runway 35 and flew to Yellow Pine. While overflying the north end of the airport, he observed the accident airplane in the creek near the departure end of runway 35.
Another witness provided video of the accident flight showing the airplane departing from runway 35. It became airborne within the first half of the runway, then made a climbing right turn over the trees and out of sight. The sound of the engine was heard at high rpm throughout the video.
Data retrieved from an onboard personal electronic device (PED) showed that at 0636:45, the airplane departed from runway 35, climbed to a GPS altitude of 5,067 ft mean sea level (msl) with an airspeed of about 60 kts, and entered a climbing turn to the northeast. The data indicated a continued northeast heading, reaching a GPS altitude of about 5,193 ft msl and an airspeed of about 47 kts. At 0637:11, the airplane made a climbing left turn to the northwest at a GPS altitude of about 5,203 ft msl with an airspeed of about 45 kts. The airplane continued on a northwest heading; the airspeed slowed to about 36 kts, and the airplane descended to about 5,153 ft msl until contact was lost.
Pilot Information
The pilot held a private pilot certificate issued about 9 months before the accident flight. At the time of the accident, he had accumulated about 170 total hours of flight experience, of which about 160 were in the accident airplane make and model.
Aircraft Information
On July 25, 2022, an Airglas Inc. LC18H cargo pod was installed, changing the airplane's empty weight from 1,286.5 to 1,357.30 lbs. The addition of the cargo pod reduced the useful load from 603.5 to 532.7 lbs.
Weight and balance calculations for the accident flight used the airplane's weight and balance records and the weights of the two occupants. The weight at departure from 3U2 was estimated to be about 229 lbs over the maximum gross weight, assuming 40 gallons of fuel, reported or measured occupant weights, and baggage. The center of gravity (CG) was calculated using the passenger and seat locations in the most favorable position and was found to be outside the manufacturer's tested/approved CG envelope.
According to the airplane's flight manual, stalling speeds with 0° flaps and 0° bank are 51 mph (≈44 kts); with 0° flaps and 30° bank, 55 mph (≈47 kts); with 30° flaps and 0° bank, 45 mph (≈39 kts); and with 30° flaps and 30° bank, 48 mph (≈41 kts).
Wreckage and Impact Examination
The airplane impacted terrain about 265 ft northeast of the departure end of runway 35. It struck the ground in a nose-low attitude and came to rest upright in a creek, on a heading of about 116° magnetic, at an elevation of 4,892 ft msl. No visible ground scars or damaged vegetation were observed near the wreckage. All major structural components were located at the accident site.
Flight control continuity was established from the cockpit to all primary flight controls. Numerous separations within the flight control system had signatures consistent with overload separation or recovery process. Postaccident examination of the recovered airframe and engine revealed no evidence of any mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Medical and Pathological Information
The Valley County Coroner's Office, McCall, Idaho, performed an autopsy of the pilot. The cause of death was multiple blunt force injuries. Toxicology testing performed at the FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory found no drugs of abuse.