NTSB Factual Report

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On June 23, 2005, at 1158 eastern daylight time, a Casten Rans S-10 experimental airplane, N327AN, registered to a pending applicant and operated by the commercial pilot, collided with the ground at Perry International Airport, in Perry, South Carolina. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 and no flight plan was filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The commercial pilot received fatal injuries, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight departed Wagener, South Carolina, at an undetermined time on June 23, 2005.

Witnesses stated the airplane was performing taxi drills prior to departing Wagener, and observed the airplane turn toward Perry Glider port after takeoff. The airplane was observed making a low approach over the runway at Perry Glider port. When the airplane flew over the runway, the engine was heard sputtering about 600 feet from the departure end of the runway. The airplane started a climb and was 100 feet above the ground when the engine lost power. The pilot turned 180 degrees, and airplane collided with the ground.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

A review of records on file with the Airmen Certification Branch, Federal Aviation Administration, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, revealed the pilot was issued a commercial certificate on April 20, 1982, with ratings for airplane single engine land, and instrument airplane. In addition, the pilot held a ground instructor certificate issued April 7, 1992. The pilot held a third class medical certificate issued on August 12, 2002, with the restriction, "must have available glasses for near vision." The pilot's total time at his last medical examination was 3,300 hours.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

Review of aircraft records on file with the FAA Aircraft Registry, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma revealed there was no current aircraft registration on file. No airplane maintenance logs were recovered for review.

It was reported by the previous owner of the airplane that the airplane had been refueled with an auto fuel/oil premix about two weeks before the accident. The airplane had been taxied numerous times after the airplane was refueled. The exact amount of fuel on board the airplane at the last departure was not determined.

METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION

At 1156, the Columbia Metropolitan Airport, West Columbia, South Carolina weather surface observation, at 1156, winds 090-magnetic, at ten knots, visibility 10 miles, sky clear, temperature 31-degrees, Celsius, a dew-point 16-degrees, Celsius, and altimeter 30.60.

WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION

Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane on the ground in a nose down attitude. The airplane rested 400 feet to the left of the northeast side of runway 07. The engine assembly was displaced downward and remained attached to the engine mounts. The firewall was buckled. One propeller blade had separated from the propeller flange. The remaining propeller was attached to the propeller flange. Torsional twisting and bending was not present on either propeller blade. The right wing was displaced rearward. The leading edge of the wing was crushed from the wing root extending outboard to the wing tip. The left wing was attached and was not damaged.

External examination of the engine revealed full intake and exhaust valve action, and compression and suction was present in all cylinders. Internal engine components rotated freely. Continuity of the crankshaft and drive gears were established through to the accessory section.

Examination of the fuel system revealed fuel was present in the carburetor and was present in the fuel lines. No fuel was present on the filter side of the fuel filter. No fuel was recovered from either fuel tank. The examination revealed that the fuel tanks were not ruptured. No browning of vegetation was present at the accident site.

MEDICAL AND TOXICOLOGICAL INFORMATION

The Lexington County Coroner, Lexington, South Carolina, performed the autopsy of the pilot on June 24, 2005. The reputed cause of death was "blunt trauma." The Forensic Toxicology Research Section, Federal Aviation Administration, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, performed postmortem toxicology of specimens of the pilot. The toxicology examinations were negative for carbon monoxide, cyanide, and ethanol. Quinine and propranolol were detected in the blood. Propranolol was also found in the urine.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The airplane was released to the owner on June 24, 2005.

NTSB Probable Cause

A loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of the pilot mismanagement. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed resulting in a stall during the forced landing.