History of Flight
On July 28, 2023, at approximately 1410 mountain daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Risen 915 iS, registration N2442, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Glendive, Montana. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operating as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
The pilot had begun a cross-country flight from Georgia eight days prior, proceeding to Felts Field (SFF), Spokane, Washington. The day before the accident, the pilot flew from SFF to Dawson Community Airport (GDV) in Glendive, Montana. The pilot initially planned to attend the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh Air Show but abandoned that plan due to operational delays. The intended destination after departing GDV is unknown.
The GDV airport manager assisted the pilot with fueling (about 15 gallons) and reported the pilot was in good spirits. The manager expected the pilot to perform a fly-by after takeoff to demonstrate the airplane's cruise speed (just under 200 knots). At 1408, the manager observed the airplane depart runway 12. The engine sounded at full power, but the airplane climbed slower than expected to about 300–400 ft agl. The main landing gear retracted, but the nose gear appeared partially extended. The airplane maintained low altitude and airspeed until a "wing drop" occurred, followed by two turns in a "flat spin" with a 45–60° nose-down attitude as it descended behind terrain.
A second witness near the accident site reported seeing the airplane flying low and slow in a turn, as if returning to the airport. The witness heard a loud pop, then observed a wing drop before the airplane entered a rotating nose-low attitude and disappeared behind terrain. Smoke was seen from the area where the airplane was lost from sight.
Aircraft and Pilot Information
The pilot reported civil flight experience of 492 total hours and 15 hours in the last six months, as of a May 17, 2023, exam. The pilot's logbook was not recovered.
The cross-country journey was delayed due to maintenance issues. The pilot texted the airplane kit manufacturer about overheating during higher operating air temperatures on the ground, taxi, and climb after takeoff. The pilot made modifications to the cooling system and texted the owner of a similar airplane that the modifications had worked. No other information on the overheating was available, and it was not mentioned in squawks or service records.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The accident site was about 1.5 miles southeast of GDV in a farmer's field. The airplane was mostly consumed by a postimpact fire. All major structural components were accounted for, including fuel tanks, fuel system, and flight controls; no debris path was observed. Examination revealed no anomalies. The main and nose landing gear were mostly consumed by fire and could not be functionally tested. Windshield fragments were found 30 ft forward of the nose; carbon fiber pieces scattered aft of the tail for about 30 ft. The debris path was consistent with a steep impact angle. The emergency parachute had discharged but not unfurled. No track data was available. Flight control continuity was established from the controls to the control surfaces.
Postaccident engine examination revealed significant impact and fire damage. All cylinders passed the manufacturer's hardness test for operational overheating. No evidence of overheating or preimpact mechanical anomalies was found that would have precluded normal operation.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy performed by the Department of Justice Forensic Science Division Montana State Chief Medical Examiner listed the cause of death as "blunt force injuries." Toxicology testing by the FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory identified no substances generally considered impairing.