| Crash location | 26.338611°N, 81.663611°W |
| Nearest city | Bonita Springs, FL
26.339806°N, 81.778697°W 7.1 miles away |
| Tail number | N262WS |
|---|---|
| Accident date | 22 Jan 2018 |
| Aircraft type | Vans Aircraft Inc RV-12 |
| Additional details: | None |
On January 22, 2018, about 1214 eastern standard time, a Van's Aircraft Inc . RV-12, N262WS, was destroyed when it collided with terrain near Bonita Springs, Florida. The sport pilot was fatally injured. The special light sport airplane was registered to a corporation and was operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations part 91. Day, visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight. The flight originated at Page Field (FMY), Fort Myers, Florida about 1200 and was destined for Everglades Airpark (X01), Everglades City, Florida.
According to preliminary air traffic control (ATC) voice commination and radar data obtained from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the flight was en route from FMY to X01. The pilot was receiving flight following services from ATC. While on a southeasterly heading and at 2,500 ft mean sea level, the pilot was advised of traffic in his vicinity. The pilot acknowledged, and shortly after this transmission he stated, "mayday, mayday." No additional calls were received from the pilot and radar and radio contact were lost.
The airplane crashed in a forested area, about 18 nautical miles southeast of FMY. There was no fire. The wreckage path was oriented south-southwest and was about 750 ft in length. All components of the airplane were accounted for at the accident site. Flight control continuity was confirmed from all flight control surfaces to the cockpit controls.
The pilot held a sport pilot certificate with an airplane single engine land rating. According to the FAA, he did not possess an FAA medical certificate, nor was one required to operate as a sport pilot.
The low-wing, single-engine, two-seat airplane incorporated a fixed, tricycle landing gear. The airplane was equipped with a Rotax 912-ULS 100-horsepower reciprocating engine. The engine was fitted with a Sensenich fixed-pitch composite propeller. The airplane was built in 2011. According to the airplane maintenance records, a condition inspection was completed on July 24, 2016, at 95 hours total time.