Incident
On May 5, 2025, at approximately 1940 eastern daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built FFF LLC Express 2000 FT airplane, registration N519EA, sustained substantial damage during an accident near Polk, Ohio. The pilot was fatally injured. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight.
Sequence of Events
The pilot had flown from Delphi Municipal Airport (1I9), Delphi, Indiana, to Burke Lakefront Airport (BKL), Cleveland, Ohio, on April 27, 2025, to visit a family member. On the accident date, the airplane departed BKL about 1857 under visual flight rules, intending to return to 1I9.
According to preliminary radar data, automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) data, and air traffic control (ATC) audio recordings from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the airplane was in cruise flight at 3,000 ft above mean sea level when its flight path became erratic, displaying irregular changes in altitude, heading, and airspeed. This erratic behavior continued until the end of the ADS-B data track.
The area where the flight path became erratic coincided with an area of heavy precipitation. A Cleveland (CLE) radar controller attempted multiple calls to the airplane without response. Subsequently, the Mansfield (MFD) local controller (LC) established communication. The pilot stated he was trying to land at Ashland County Airport (3G4), Ashland, Ohio, and that he was at 3,800 ft. The MFD LC requested a pilot report and offered assistance. The pilot reported a rough ride and difficulty controlling the airplane. The controller suggested flying southbound, but no further response was received. Radar contact was lost shortly afterward when the airplane was at 2,600 ft.
The wreckage was found in a wooded area near a farmer's field, approximately 3.3 nautical miles northeast of 3G4.
Wreckage Examination
Examination revealed that the airplane struck a tree limb and then impacted terrain in an approximate 15° nose low attitude while in a right turn. There was no evidence of inflight fire, explosion, or structural failure. All primary flight control surfaces (ailerons, elevator, and rudder) remained attached to their mounts. The wing flaps were in the up position.
Both fuel tank caps were in place, but both tanks were breached, and the odor of aviation gasoline was present. The baggage door and both cabin doors separated during impact, and the empennage was nearly completely separated from the aft fuselage.
The engine throttle was full open, the propeller control was in the "HIGH RPM" position, and the mixture control was slightly lean of rich (about halfway between "LEAN" and "RICH"). The fuel selector was set to the "RIGHT" fuel tank. The propeller and engine were recovered from about 3 ft below ground level. The engine was almost completely separated from its mounting forward of the firewall and canted downward. The propeller was separated from the crankshaft and canted to the right of the engine centerline.
Weather Conditions
At 1943, the weather reported at Wayne County Airport (BJJ), Wooster, Ohio, about 15 nautical miles from the accident site, included wind from 270° at 15 knots gusting to 21 knots, visibility 4 miles in moderate rain and thunderstorms with mist, overcast ceiling at 4,000 ft above ground level, temperature 11°C, dew point 9°C, and altimeter setting 29.92 inHg. Peak wind was from 210° at 40 knots at 1904, with a wind shift at 1902. Lightning was observed in the distant west through northeast, rain began at 1906, and a thunderstorm began at 1908. Precipitation of 0.86 inches had occurred since 1856.
The National Weather Service (NWS) National Reflectivity Mosaic for 1940 showed echoes of 20 to 60 dBZ in the area. A Convective SIGMET (SIGMET 96E) issued at 1855 and valid through 2055 forecast severe thunderstorms with tops to FL410, hail to 1.5 inches, and wind gusts to 60 knots in the area at the accident time.
Aircraft and Pilot Information
According to FAA and maintenance records, the airplane received its special airworthiness certificate on June 22, 2017. Its most recent condition inspection was completed on September 6, 2024, at which time the airframe had accrued about 347 total hours and the engine about 467 total hours.
The pilot held a private pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land and rotorcraft-helicopter. He did not possess an instrument rating. His FAA BasicMed course was completed on July 4, 2024, and his BasicMed comprehensive medical examination checklist was completed on July 26, 2022. He had accrued about 622 total flight hours, about 412 of which were in the accident airplane make and model.
The wreckage was retained for further examination.