NTSB Factual Report

On October 3, 1998, about 1230 Eastern Daylight Time, a homebuilt Super Cat, N132TF, was destroyed when it collided with trees in Middlebury, Connecticut, after takeoff from Waterbury-Oxford Airport (OXC), Oxford, Connecticut. The certificated private pilot was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was filed for the local flight, conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector, two witnesses saw the accident airplane take off moments after a Hawker 1000 business jet. The active runway at the time was Runway 36.

The pilot's remains were found in a field, about 1 mile north of the airport, on a bearing of 334 degrees magnetic. The airplane's wreckage was located the next day in some woods, approximately 845 feet north of the pilot's position, and on the same bearing from the airport. The airplane's wreckage path was 75 feet in length, along a 335 degrees magnetic heading. Trees were found cut at a descending 45 degree angle.

Inspection of the wreckage revealed that the wooden propeller was shattered, with maximum piece lengths of about 2 feet. The leading edges of some pieces exhibited cuts and gouges, and green discoloration. Many tree cuts were clean, with some cut diagonally. There was a strong odor of fuel, and all control surfaces were found at the site.

The airplane's Hobbs meter showed 0.3 hours since the last entries in the pilot and aircraft logbooks. The shoulder harness, seat belts and buckles were inspected, and found intact and unfastened. There was no sign of belt stretching, fatigue or overload, nor any scratch marks on the metal buckles or attaching hardware. The FAA Inspector stated that when she buckled the seat belts, there was a little slack between the seat belt straps and the seat, but not enough to be able to secure a person in the seat.

The airplane had an open cockpit. A witness very familiar with the pilot stated that the pilot had been known to fly without his seat belt and shoulder harness fastened..

An autopsy was performed on the pilot by the State of Connecticut, Department of Health Services, Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Farmington, Connecticut. Toxicological testing was performed by the FAA Toxicology and Accident Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and yielded negative results for carbon monoxide, cyanide, ethanol, and legal and illegal drugs.

On October 3, 1998, the wreckage was released to a representative from Avemco Insurance Company, Frederick, Maryland.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to utilize his seat belt and shoulder harness.