History of Flight
On April 30, 2023, at about 1700 central daylight time, a Titan Tornado experimental light-sport airplane, registration N31311, was destroyed when it crashed near Lewisville, Arkansas. The pilot, who was not certificated, sustained fatal injuries. The flight was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight.
The owner of the private airstrip reported that the pilot and two other airplanes had arrived earlier that day. Witnesses indicated that surface winds increased during the day and were gusty when the three pilots decided to depart. The airstrip owner noted that the winds were gusty enough that he would not have operated his own airplane from the strip at that time. According to the owner, the pilot stated he intended to perform a steep climbing takeoff to demonstrate the airplane's climb performance.
The owner observed the airplane take off, then enter a steep initial climb and left turn over wooded terrain before he lost sight of it due to the terrain. A witness near the departure end of the runway reported that the first two airplanes departed normally. During the accident airplane's departure, she thought it would impact a tree in her yard when it banked left at low altitude, but it struck trees southeast of her residence.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The main wreckage came to rest in a flat, wooded marsh south of the airstrip. All major components were accounted for. The right wing separated from the fuselage after impacting a tree about 80 ft from where the main wreckage came to rest on its right side. The left wing remained partially attached. Flight control continuity could not be established due to impact damage, but all separations were consistent with overstress. An odor of automotive fuel was present. The three-blade composite propeller had impact damage, with two blades broken at the roots within the hub.
The engine exhibited mechanical continuity of the drivetrain and valvetrain when rotated by hand. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. An electronic flight information system device and digital engine monitor were retained; no data was recorded by the EFIS, and the engine monitor was damaged, preventing data recovery.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy performed by the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory listed the cause of death as multiple blunt force injuries, and the manner of death was accident. Toxicology testing identified ethanol at 0.02 g/dL in the pilot's cavity blood, but not in urine or vitreous. N-propanol was detected at a low level in cavity blood only. Dextromethorphan was detected in urine; testing was inconclusive in cavity blood. Dextrorphan was detected in cavity blood; testing was inconclusive in urine. Metformin was detected in cavity blood and urine. Amlodipine, lisinopril, and hydrochlorothiazide were detected in both; chlorothiazide was detected in urine only. Acetaminophen was detected in both. Salicylic acid was detected in urine only. Glucose was measured at 88 mg/dL in urine but not detected in vitreous.