| Crash location | 39.862500°N, 84.433056°W |
| Nearest city | Brookville, OH
39.836721°N, 84.411337°W 2.1 miles away |
| Tail number | N29GL |
|---|---|
| Accident date | 21 Oct 2003 |
| Aircraft type | Loranger Emeraude CP301A |
| Additional details: | None |
On October 21, 2003, at 0930 eastern daylight time, an amateur built Emeraude CP301A, N29GL, was substantially damaged after impacting terrain, following a total loss of power during climbout from the Brookville Airport (I62), Brookville, Ohio. The certificated private pilot was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight destined for a private airstrip in Greenville, Ohio. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the pilot was delivering the airplane to Greenville because it was sold to another individual. Witnesses observed the airplane depart from runway 27. As the airplane climbed to 300 feet, the engine suddenly quit, and the airplane made a left hand turn. During the turn, the airplane descended rapidly out of the witnesses view.
The airplane came to rest in a field upright, about 1/4-mile from the airport.
The FAA inspector examined the wreckage after the accident. He observed substantial damage to both wings, and the forward fuselage. The inspector did not observe any anomalies with the flight or engine controls. The fuel gauge needle in the cockpit was observed stuck between the 1/4-1/2 position. The fuel tank was ruptured, and no fuel stains were observed on the fuselage skin. About one teaspoon of fuel was observed in the carburetor bowl, and no fuel was observed in either the fuel tank or fuel lines.
Examination of the engine and its maintenance logs did not reveal any abnormalities.
The inspector noted that there was an absence of fuel odor at the accident site, and no discoloration of foliage was observed.
The inspector also stated that an approximate 500-foot-long cornfield was located at the departure end of runway 27.
The last fueling record obtained from the fixed based operator at I62 for the accident airplane was dated on July 30, 2003, when the airplane was fueled with 15 gallons of 100LL aviation gasoline.
Under the direction of The Montgomery County Coroner's Office, Dayton, Ohio, an autopsy on the pilot was performed on October 21, 2003.
The FAA Toxicology and Accident Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma conducted toxicological testing on the pilot.
The pilot's improper decision to operate an airplane with insufficient fuel for the flight, his improper decision to return to the airport with inadequate altitude remaining, and his failure to maintain airspeed, which resulted in an inadvertent stall. A factor related to the accident was the inaccuracy of the fuel gauge.