NTSB Factual Report

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On March 5, 2010, about 1030 eastern standard time, a Luscombe 8A, N45976, was substantially damaged when it crashed in a pond shortly after takeoff from Hodges Field (GA39), Savannah, Georgia. The certificated commercial pilot/owner was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local personal flight that originated at GA39, and was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.

In a written statement, a witness said that he arrived at GA39 as the pilot prepared to hand-prop the accident airplane for engine start. The witness offered to perform the hand start for the pilot, and the pilot climbed into the cockpit. The engine started on the second attempt, and "everything sounded and appeared normal." Prior to engine start, the pilot stated that he intended to fly for about 45 minutes, and remain close to GA39. The airplane taxied for takeoff from runway 12, and the takeoff appeared "a little wobbly, but quite normal considering the breezy conditions...In short, I observed nothing out of the ordinary with [the pilot], the engine, or the aircraft."

The witness departed GA39 before the pilot was expected to return. Later that afternoon, friends and family notified local authorities that the pilot was missing. On March 6, 2010, the airplane was located submerged in a pond, about 100 yards off the departure end of runway 12, at GA39.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

A review of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airman records revealed that the pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single-engine land, glider, and instrument airplane. His most recent FAA second class medical certificate was issued in June 1990. The pilot reported 1,700 total hours of flight experience on that date.

The pilot's logbook was recovered, but could not be immediately reconciled due to several omissions, and bookkeeping errors. His most recent flight was logged on January 6, 2009, and his total estimated flight experience was 2,055 hours. No flights in the accident airplane were annotated in the logbook.

The pilot/owner also held a repairman experimental aircraft builder certificate, and a mechanic certificate with ratings for airframe and powerplant. He received his powerplant rating on February 5, 2010.

The pilot was operating in the FAA "Sport Pilot" category, and as such, was not required to hold a current FAA medical certificate, only a valid driver's license.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

According to FAA and maintenance records, the airplane was manufactured in 1946 and had accrued 1,617 total aircraft hours. Its most recent 100-hour inspection was completed on February 26, 2010, at 1,617 aircraft hours. A review of the airplane's maintenance records by an FAA aviation safety inspector revealed that the pilot/owner had performed extensive maintenance, overhaul, and modification work to both the airframe and powerplant in the months preceding the accident.

The airplane's maximum allowable gross weight was 1,260 pounds, which was below the light sport category maximum of 1,320 pounds.

METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION

At 1053, the weather reported at Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV), 8 miles north of the site, included clear skies and winds from 200 degrees at 7 knots. The visibility was 10 miles. The temperature was 11 degrees C and the dew point was -7 degrees C. The altimeter setting was 30.15.

WRECKAGE INFORMATION

The airplane was recovered from the pond, and examination of the airplane at the scene by the FAA inspector revealed substantial damage to the nose cowling, firewall, fuselage, wings, and empennage structures. One propeller blade was intact, and the other was fractured along its span from near the root to about the tip. The fuel tank was full of fuel.

Both wings were displaced aft from their fuselage mounts, and displayed uniform crushing along their entire spans.

Control continuity was established from the cockpit out to all flight control surfaces. The engine was rotated by hand at the propeller, and continuity was established from the powertrain to the valvetrain. Compression was confirmed using the thumb method. The examination was suspended, and the airplane was moved to a recovery facility in Atlanta, Georgia.

Examination of the airplane engine was performed in Atlanta, Georgia, on March 24, 2010, under the supervision of an FAA inspector. The top spark plugs were removed, and displayed normal wear when compared to the Champion Check-A-Plug comparison chart. Borescope examination of the cylinders revealed normal wear and deposits.

Timing was confirmed on the right magneto, but could not be confirmed on the left magneto. The magnetos were removed, their driveshafts were rotated, but neither magneto would produce spark at any terminals. The magnetos were disassembled, and both contained water and displayed corrosion.

The carburetor was separated from the engine and displayed impact damage, but the throttle and carburetor heat controls functioned smoothly. Disassembly revealed the metal float and needle valve moved freely. The carburetor bowl, venturi, and fuel jet were all clean and absent of debris.

The engine oil screen was removed and examination revealed a large quantity of metal flakes and carbon-type deposits; all coated with clear oil.

MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION

The Office of the Medical Examiner, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, performed the autopsy on the pilot in Savannah, Georgia. The autopsy report indicated that the pilot died as a result of "blunt force injury with drowning." Other significant conditions included "arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease" and " hypertensive heart disease."

The FAA's Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, performed toxicological testing of the pilot. The testing revealed the following substances either detected or measured in both blood and urine samples:

112 (ug/ml, ug/g) Amitriptylene

0.85 (ug/ml, ug/g) Meprobamate

0.049 (ug/ml, ug/g) Nortriptylene

9.922 (ug/ml, ug/g) Tramadol

Carisoprodol

Amitriptylene and Nortriptylene were most commonly prescribed as antidepressants. Meprobamate was most commonly prescribed as an anti-anxiety medication and muscle relaxant. Carisoprodol was most commonly prescribed as a muscle relaxant. Tramadol was most commonly prescribed for relief of moderate to severe pain, often associated with arthritis.

In a telephone interview, a representative of the pilot's family revealed that the pilot's widow had no knowledge of the pilot's medical history, the physicians he may have consulted, or the point of sale for the medications he had taken. The family surmised that the pilot may have received medical treatment from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), but written and verbal requests for medical records from the VA revealed no records.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed and inadvertent stall after takeoff.