NTSB Factual Report

On July 20, 2007, approximately 1830 central daylight time, a single-engine Hazen Fly Baby homebuilt airplane, N6156Y, was substantially damaged upon collision with heavily wooded and mountainous terrain under unknown circumstances in the Ouachita National Forest near Page, Oklahoma. The private pilot/builder, sole occupant of the airplane, was fatally injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. No flight plan was filed for the cross-country flight that originated from a private airstrip near Big Cedar, Oklahoma, about 0630, and was destined for Mena, Arkansas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.

The airplane was reported missing by concerned family members. A search and rescue alert notice (ALNOT) was issued and the search initiated. The airplane was located approximately one mile south of Oklahoma State Highway 59 on Rich Mountain (elevation 2,950 feet mean sea level) by units of the Oklahoma and Arkansas Civil Air Patrol (CAP) on July 25, 2007.

A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector performed an on-scene examination on the same day. According to the inspector, the airplane, which was constructed from wood and fabric frame, came to rest at the base of several large pine trees and did not burn. The right wing was pierced by one of these large trees. The initial impact point appeared to be the tops of the trees located directly above the main wreckage, which included the engine, fuselage, both wings, and tail section. All flight control surfaces remained attached to the airframe. The two-bladed wooden propeller was damaged; however, it remained attached to the engine. The airplane was powered by a 65-horsepower Continental engine. Engine continuity was established via manual rotation of the propeller. The single fuel tank was breached by impact forces, and the fuel cap was found secured to the tank.

The pilot held a private pilot certificate for airplane single-engine land and also held an inspection certificate for experimental aircraft. His last FAA third class medical certificate was issued on August 1, 2003. At that time, the pilot reported having accumulated a total of 452-flight hours. The pilot's logbook and the airplane's logbooks were not located during the course of the investigation.

An autopsy was conducted by the Oklahoma Office of the Chief Medical Examiner on July 27, 2007. According to the autopsy report, the probable cause of death was "multiple trauma (full body)." Toxicological testing was not conducted.

Weather at the Fort Smith International Airport (FSM), near Fort Smith, Arkansas, about 27 miles northeast of the accident site, at 1853, was reporting winds from 080 degrees at 9 knots, visibility 10 miles, few clouds at 5,500 feet, scattered clouds at 11,000 feet, temperature 82 degrees Fahrenheit, dewpoint 69 degrees Fahrenheit, and a barometric pressure setting of 29.99 inches of Mercury.

NTSB Probable Cause

The airplane's collision with wooded and mountainous terrain for undetermined reasons.