NTSB Factual Report

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On October 18, 2002, about 1540 central daylight time, an amateur-built Wondrasek Rans S-10 Sakota, N228DW, piloted by a student pilot, was destroyed on impact with terrain following a loss of control while attempting an aborted landing. The landing was being made on runway 34 (2,400 feet by 25 feet, asphalt) at the Missouri Valley Airport, Missouri Valley, Iowa. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, was fatally injured. The local flight originated at an undetermined time.

A witness stated that he saw the airplane approaching to land but did not observe the landing. He stated that he saw the airplane climb out at a very steep angle. He said the airplane appeared to stall when it was at an altitude of about 300 feet above the ground. The witness said that, when the airplane stalled, the right wing dropped and the airplane entered a vertical dive. The airplane subsequently impacted the ground.

Another witness said that he saw the airplane approaching the runway from the south. He said that the airplane was, "coming in fast and steep," and that the airplane hit the runway at a steep angle. He said that he did not see anything else.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

The pilot held a student pilot certificate issued on March 17, 1997. The pilot also held a third class medical certificate issued on October 16, 2001. No limitations were listed on the medical certificate. The pilot reported having 150 total flight hours as of the date of the medical certificate. No pilot flight records were recovered.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

The airplane was a kit-built Rans, S-10. The Rans S-10 is a mid-wing monoplane with a tailwheel type landing gear. The fuselage is a fabric covered steel tube structure. The wing is fabric covered aluminum. The airplane was powered by a Rotax model 582 engine, rated at 65 horsepower. The airplane was registered with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), however, it did not have registration markings painted on the airplane. According to the FAA, the airplane had not been issued an airworthiness certificate or amateur built operating limitations.

METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION

A weather reporting station located about 15 nautical miles south of the accident site recorded the weather at 1552 as: Sky condition -- clear; Visibility -- 10 statute miles; Wind -- 010 degrees at 10 knots; Temperature -- 20 degrees Celsius; Dewpoint -- 4 degrees Celsius.

WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION

A postaccident examination of the wreckage was conducted on October 19, 2002, by a representative of the FAA. The airplane came to rest about 270 feet east of the north end of runway 34. The airplane did not travel forward of the initial impact point.

The nose section of the airplane was damaged, the landing gear was collapsed, and the right wing leading edge was damaged. The flight control system was examined, Aileron and rudder continuity was confirmed. The elevator control tube was broken at the base of the control stick. The break was consistent with an overstress fracture. No other anomalies were found with respect to the airframe.

The engine was examined and compression was verified on both cylinders. The cylinder head was removed and the cylinders inspected for condition. No anomalies were found. The fuel system was examined and no anomalies were found.

MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION

An autopsy was performed on the pilot on October 19, 2002. A Final Forensic Fatal Toxicology Report listed negative results for all tests performed.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain control and adequate airspeed, resulting in the inadvertent stall/spin. A factor was the low altitude.