NTSB Factual Report

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On August 25, 2011, at 1856 eastern daylight time, a Nichols model Lancair 235 airplane, N777BN, was destroyed when it impacted trees and terrain during initial climb from Newark-Heath Airport (VTA), Heath, Ohio. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the private pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without a flight plan. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight that was originating at the time of the accident.

According to a witness, who was located on the airport, the airplane had used runway 27 for the accident takeoff. The witness stated that the airplane appeared to be "very unstable" after it became airborne, alternately rolling right and left while remaining only a few feet above the runway. The witness remarked that it appeared that the pilot was not in control of the airplane. The airplane then turned left and proceeded off the runway directly toward the witness. The witness noted that the airplane continued to fly erratically, with continuous pitch, yaw, and roll changes, and cleared a row of airport hangars by about 10 feet. The airplane then continued the climb to 100-150 feet above the ground before it banked sharply to the left and entered a nose-down descent into trees. The witness stated that the engine sounded normal throughout the entire flight, with no observed hesitations or misfires.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records, the pilot, age 50, held a private pilot certificate with a single engine land airplane rating. His last aviation medical examination was completed on October, 20, 2010, but his eligibility to be issued a medical certificate required additional review by the FAA Aerospace Medical Certification Division. On August 5, 2011, the FAA provided the pilot with a special issuance of his third-class medical certificate with the restriction for corrective lenses. The special issuance of the medical certificate also stipulated that the medical would not be valid after October 31, 2012. A search of FAA records showed no previous accidents, incidents, or enforcement proceedings.

The most recent pilot logbook entry was dated August 16, 2011. At that time, the pilot had accumulated 121.5 hours total flight time, of which 63.9 hours were as pilot-in-command. The logbook indicated that all of his flight experience had been completed in single-engine land airplanes. The pilot had not logged any flights in the accident airplane or a similar Lancair airplane. He had logged two flights, totaling 1.9 hours, during the previous year. The first flight was completed on October 9, 2010, and consisted of a 1.1 hour flight review in a Cessna model 172S. The second flight was completed on August 16, 2011, in the same Cessna model 172S, and consisted of 0.8 hours of dual instruction to satisfy insurance requirements to rent the airplane. The pilot's flight logbook included an endorsement to operate high-performance airplanes, which was dated April 6, 2004. The logbook did not contain an endorsement for complex airplanes.

According to the former owner and builder of the accident airplane, he provided a demonstration flight for the accident pilot before he sold the airplane on September 14, 2010. The former owner allowed the pilot to fly the airplane during portions of the demonstration flight; however, the pilot did not complete any takeoffs or landings. (The demonstration flight was not logged in the accident pilot's logbook.) The pilot reportedly asked if the former owner would like to fly with him in the future, presumably to gain additional familiarization with the airplane. The former owner offered to fly with the pilot, but they did not fly together again following the sale of the airplane. As a suggestion to gain familiarization with ground handling characteristics of the airplane, the former owner told the pilot to complete a lot of taxiing in the airplane before he attempted to takeoff.

The flight instructor who flew with the pilot on August 16, 2011, 9 days before the accident, stated that when asked about the accident airplane, the pilot replied that he had not flown the accident airplane since he bought it.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

The accident airplane was a 1990 Nichols model Lancair 235 amateur-built airplane, serial number (s/n) 334. A 135-horsepower Lycoming model O-290-D2 reciprocating engine, s/n 6293-21, powered the airplane. The airplane was equipped with a fixed-pitch, two blade, Prince model P-Tip carbon-fiber covered wood propeller. The airplane had a retractable tricycle landing gear and a maximum takeoff weight of 1,500 pounds.

On August 10, 1990, the accident airplane was issued an experimental airworthiness certificate and associated operating limitations. The airplane hour meter indicated 251 hours at the accident site. The airframe had accumulated a total service time of 1,131 hours at the time of the accident. The engine had accumulated a total service time of 2,758 hours, and 1,131 hours since a field overhaul on February 10, 1988. The engine had accumulated 273 hours since a top-overhaul on May 28, 2004. The last condition inspection was completed on August 7, 2010, at 1120 total airframe hours. There were no maintenance entries recorded since the last condition inspection. A postaccident review of the maintenance records found no history of unresolved airworthiness issues.

The pilot reportedly had not flown the airplane since he purchased it from the original builder on September 14, 2010. He reportedly had expressed concerns with the airplane's ground-handling characteristics. He was observed performing several high-speed ground tests in the weeks preceding the accident.

METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION

At 1853, the airport's automated surface observing system (ASOS) reported: wind 330 degrees at 7 knots, visibility 10 miles, broken ceiling at 5,500 feet above ground level (agl), temperature 25 degrees Celsius, dew point 17 degrees Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 29.95 inches of mercury.

AIRPORT INFORMATION

The Newark-Heath Airport (VTA), located about 3 miles southwest of Newark, Ohio, was served by a single runway: 9/27 (4,649 feet by 75 feet, asphalt). The airport elevation was 884 feet mean sea level (msl). Runway 27 was equipped with a four-light precision approach path indicator.

WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION

A postaccident examination of the airport property revealed that the airplane had veered off the left side of the runway, about 1,700 feet from the approach threshold, while still on the ground. The airplane nose landing gear collided with a runway edge light and the observed tire tracks continued on a southwesterly heading for about 100 feet before the airplane became airborne.

The airplane collided with several trees and a residential backyard located immediately south of the airport property. All airframe structural components and aerodynamic control surfaces were accounted for at the accident site. Flight control continuity could not be established due to the extent of the damage; however, all observed flight control system discontinuities were consistent with overstress. The landing gear was observed to be extended. No preimpact anomalies were noted with the main landing gear braking system that was used for directional control during ground operations. The airplane was not equipped with nose-wheel steering.

The engine remained attached to the firewall. Internal engine and valve train continuity was confirmed as the engine crankshaft was rotated. Compression and suction were noted on all cylinders in conjunction with crankshaft rotation. The upper spark plugs were removed and exhibited features consistent with normal engine operation. Both magnetos provided spark on all leads when rotated. There were no obstructions between the air filter housing and the carburetor inlet. The fuel supply line to the carburetor contained liquid consistent in appearance and odor with 100-low lead aviation fuel. A fuel sample was free of any water or particulate contamination. The carburetor inlet screen was free of any particulate contamination. Mechanical continuity was confirmed from the engine components to their respective cockpit engine controls.

The propeller remained bolted to the engine crankshaft. Fragments of one propeller blade were found throughout the accident site. The other propeller blade remained attached to the engine and exhibited leading edge damage.

The postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

A handheld GPS device was recovered from the wreckage; however, the device did not contain any track data for the accident flight. No additional data sources were located at the accident site or in the recovered wreckage.

MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION

On August 26, 2011, an autopsy was performed on the pilot at the Licking County Coroner's Office, located in Newark, Ohio. The cause of death for the pilot was attributed to blunt-force injuries sustained during the accident.

The FAA's Civil Aerospace Medical Institute (CAMI) in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, performed toxicology tests on samples obtained during the pilot's autopsy. No carbon monoxide, cyanide, ethanol, or drugs were detected.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to obtain adequate familiarization with the accident airplane type before the accident flight, which resulted in his failure to maintain airplane control during takeoff.