History of Flight
On September 25, 2024, at approximately 0710 eastern daylight time, an Evolution Aircraft Inc. Revo weight-shift-control aircraft, registration N889HT, was destroyed in an accident near Zephyrhills, Florida. The flight instructor and student pilot were fatally injured. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an instructional flight.
A witness reported hearing the aircraft flying while standing outside and noted a sputtering engine sound. Looking up, the witness heard a popping noise and observed the aircraft descending in a nose-down attitude with flames visible. The descent continued until impact with terrain.
Security video from a nearby business captured the aircraft in a nose-down attitude with wings folded back just before impact. Multiple navigation lights were illuminated during the early morning hour.
Wreckage and Impact Information
Examination of the wreckage revealed the aircraft came to rest in a field with compact distribution. No evidence of an inflight fire was found, but a postimpact fire consumed most of the wreckage. All flight control cables were connected at their respective points except the haul back cable, which was disconnected at the “J” hook; the safety latch remained intact. Engine examination disclosed no preimpact mechanical anomalies that would have prevented normal operation.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy on the flight instructor, performed by the Office of the Medical Examiner, Pinellas County Science Center, Largo, Florida, attributed the cause of death to blunt force injuries. No autopsy was conducted on the student pilot.
Toxicology testing on the student pilot’s blood by the FAA Forensic Services Laboratory found no evidence of impairing drugs. Toxicology testing on the instructor’s blood detected Rosuvastatin (a prescription cholesterol medication acceptable for pilots), Alfuzosin (an alpha-1-adrenoceptor antagonist for enlarged prostate, acceptable for pilots), and Tadalafil (a PDE5 inhibitor for erectile dysfunction, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and pulmonary arterial hypertension, conditionally acceptable for pilots). None of these medications were generally considered impairing.
Additional Information
The haul back cable on the accident aircraft was used for folding and unfolding the wings. This cable ran through the wing’s center and allowed the pilot to retract the wings for transport or storage. The cable was pulled tight to unfold the wings and attached to the “J” hook at the front center wing section by hooking under the spring lock.