NTSB Factual Report

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On August 18, 2010, about 1110 eastern daylight time, an experimental light sport Maxair MU 582 Drifter, N582RH, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain shortly takeoff from First Lake, near Old Forge, NY. The certificated private pilot was fatally injured and the passenger incurred minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight, which was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.

The passenger provided a statement to the New York State Police, which recounted the events that took place during the accident flight. According to the passenger, the pilot planned to fly the airplane to the opposite end of the lake to meet several family members. After fueling the airplane and taxiing about "three quarters down the lake", the pilot oriented the airplane into the wind and began the takeoff. The airplane began to climb within 300 feet, but shortly thereafter, and as the airplane was approaching a line of trees on the shore, the passenger heard the pilot state "this isn't good." The pilot the advised the passenger to, "hang on" as he banked the airplane steeply to the right. The passenger further described, "We banked so hard that we lost all forward momentum and started to free fall." The airplane's engine continued to operate throughout the entire accident sequence until the airplane impacted the ground. The passenger estimated that the airplane fell to the ground from a height of about 100 feet, and impacted a nose down attitude in a swamp.

Two other individuals watched the airplane during the takeoff and recounted a similar series of events to the New York State Police. According to the witnesses, the airplane initially taxied to the north, before it turned around and began a takeoff to the south. The airplane climbed to about 100 feet above the ground, and as it reached a tree line, banked right. One witnesses described that the airplane looked like it was "completely sideways", before it "did a nose dive" in to a swampy area.

PILOT INFORMATION

A review of FAA airman records revealed that the pilot held a private pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land and sea. The pilot's most recent third-class medical certificate was issued in August 1998, and at that time the pilot reported 3,000 total hours of flight experience.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

According to FAA records, the airplane was manufactured in 1989, and certificated as an experimental light sport aircraft in 2007. The maintenance records were not recovered. Review of the airplane's operating limitations showed an aircraft empty weight of 473 pounds, and a listed gross weight of 1,150 pounds.

METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION

The 1053 recorded weather at Griffiss International Airport (RME), Rome, New York, located about 36 nautical miles southwest of the accident site, included calm winds, clear skies, 10 statute miles visibility, temperature 19 degrees C, dewpoint 16 degrees C, and an altimeter setting of 30.10 inches of mercury. The calculated density altitude was 2,654 feet.

WRECKAGE INFORMATION

The airplane was examined at the scene by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector. According to the inspector, control continuity could not be confirmed due to the disassembly of the aircraft that was conducted by first responders in order to extricate the pilot.

The engine crankshaft was rotated by hand and compression was confirmed on all cylinders. All spark plugs appeared "normal," and residual fuel was present in the fuel lines from the fuel tanks to the carburetor.

MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION

A postmortem examination of the pilot was conducted by the Herkimer Counter Coroner, Little Falls, New York.

The FAA’s Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, performed toxicological testing of the pilot. Fluid and tissue specimens from the pilot tested negative for carbon monoxide, cyanide, and ethanol. The test was positive for the presence of the drug Metoprolol.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The airplane's weight at the time of the accident was estimated using assuming a combined pilot and passenger weight of 400 pounds, a fuel weight of 90 pounds, and an installed float weight of 116 pounds. The gross weight was calculated to be 1,079 pounds.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to use the full length of the lake, which necessitated a steep turn to avoid obstacles during takeoff that resulted in an accelerated stall.