NTSB Factual Report

History of Flight

On November 5, 2012, at 1135 central standard time, an amateur-built Sorensen MX II Sprint, collided with trees during an aborted landing from a private airstrip in Groesbeck, Texas. The pilot was fatally injured and the airplane received minor damage. The flight was being conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The local flight originated from the private airstrip about 0941.

A handheld global positioning system (GPS) that was on the airplane contained data for the accident flight. GPS data showed the pilot took off on a southerly heading from his private airstrip. The airstrip is approximately 1,000 feet long and is on a magnetic heading of 02/22. The GPS data indicated the airplane then flew on a southwesterly heading toward the town of Davis Prairie and continued to amd area just northwest of Alto Springs. The airplane made several circling maneuvers in this area, at one point descending to an altitude of 584 feet above mean sea level (msl), which was about 150 feet above ground level (agl). The airplane then headed east to the town of Kosse before turning northeast back toward the departure airstrip. The airplane maneuvered to the east of the airstrip then made a low pass on runway 22 descending to an altitude of about 100 feet agl. The airplane climbed and maneuvered to the east of the airstrip then once again lined up with runway 22. The data indicates that the airplane landed to the south and made a 180 degree turn before departing to the north, runway 02. After taking off, the airplane made a left hand traffic pattern and returned to land on runway 02. The second to last data point shows the airplane about 400 feet down the runway at an altitude of about 30 feet agl at a calculated ground speed of 32 knots. The last data point shows the airplane off the left side of the runway.

The pilot's wife reported to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector that the airplane was coming in to land and it appeared that the pilot aborted the landing. The airplane was starting to climb when it banked to the left and impacted the trees. She stated the engine of the airplane continued to run after the airplane impacted the trees.

Personnel Information

The pilot, age 69, held an Airline Transport Pilot certificate with an airplane multi-engine land rating and a Commercial Pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine land rating. In addition, the pilot held an Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic certificate. The pilot did not have a current FAA airman medical certificate. The pilot's last FAA medical certificate was first class certificate issued on January 1, 2003. The pilot reported having 12,500 hours of flight time on the application for his last medical certificate. No other records were located indicating what additional flight time the pilot may have accumulated. The pilot's wife stated that he had about 3 hours of flight time in the accident airplane.

Aircraft Information

The 2-place amateur-built Sorensen MX II Sprint airplane was built by the pilot from a Quicksilver MX II Sprint Kit. The Quicksilver MX II Sprint is a 2-place, single wing, open cockpit airplane which is often used as an ultralight trainer. A Bill of Sale indicates the pilot purchased the kit on April 7, 2011. He registered the airplane on August 30, 2011. The airplane did not have an airworthiness certificate. The airplane was powered by a 65 horsepower, 2-cylinder, 2-stroke liquid cooled Rotax 582 engine. The airplane was equipped with 2-6 gallon fuel tanks.

The pilot had been working at resolving weight and balance, and trim issues with the airplane. In the process of doing this, he shimmed the stabilizer and moved the seats forward. Although the pilot had not weighed the aircraft, postaccident weight and balance calculations using the empty weight of a comparable airplane, indicate the center of gravity of the accident airplane was aft of the aft center of gravity limit.

The airplane hobbs meter indicated 13.1 hours. According to the pilot's wife he had actually flown the airplane about 3 hours. The GPS contained data from one previous flight.

Meteorological Conditions

At 1151, the weather reported at the Waco Regional Airport (ACT), Waco, Texas, located 45 miles west off the accident sire was: Wind 010 degrees at 8 knots; 10 miles visibility; clear sky; temperature 25 degrees Celsius; dew point 11 degrees Celsius; altimeter 30.04 inches of mercury.

Wreckage and Impact Information

The airplane came to rest in the trees off the left side of runway 02 at a distance about 600 feet down the runway from the approach end. The nose of the airplane was pointed up and was higher in the trees then the tail of the airplane which was just above the ground. The airplane received minor damage during the impact. Flight control continuity was established during the postaccident examination of the airplane.

The pilot's wife stated she heard the engine running after the airplane impacted the trees, and that it continued to run while she made the 911 call. First responders reported that the pilot's seatbelt was found unbuckled and the pilot was on the ground near the airplane. The engine ignition switch was found turned to the off position. A postaccident inspection of the pilot's seat belt revealed it was intact and operational.

Medical and Pathological Information

An autopsy was performed on the pilot on November 6, 2012, at the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences at Dallas. The cause of death was reported as "Multiple blunt for injuries."

Forensic toxicology was performed on speimens from the pilot by the FAA Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The test results revealed:

0.159 (ug/mL, ug/g) 7-Amino-clonazepam detected in Urine

7-Amino-clonazepam NOT detected in Blood (Cavity)

Amlodipine detected in Blood (Cavity)

Amlodipine detected in Urine

Desmethylsertraline detected in Urine

0.118 (ug/mL, ug/g) Desmethylsertraline detected in Blood (Cavity)

Dihydrocodeine NOT detected in Blood (Cavity)

0.309 (ug/mL, ug/g) Dihydrocodeine detected in Urine

Diphenhydramine detected in Urine

0.064 (ug/ml, ug/g) Diphenhydramine detected in Blood (Cavity)

0.641 (ug/mL, ug/g) Hydrocodone detected in Urine

Hydrocodone NOT detected in Blood (Cavity)

0.396 (ug/mL, ug/g) Hydromorphone detected in Urine

Hydromorphone NOT detected in Blood (Cavity)

Methylphenidate NOT detected in Blood (Cavity)

Methylphenidate detected in Urine

Pramipexole detected in Blood (Cavity)

Pramipexole detected in Urine

Ranitidine detected in Blood (Cavity)

Ranitidine detected in Urine

Sertraline detected in Urine

0.109 (ug/mL, ug/g) Sertraline detected in Blood (Cavity)

Terazosin detected in Blood (Cavity)

Terazosin detected in Liver

Terazosin detected in Urine

0.031 (ug/ml, ug/g) Zolpidem detected in Blood (Cavity)

Zolpidem detected in Urine

According to the pilot's wife he was being treated for hypertension, high cholesterol, prostatism, and occasionally took zolpidem to help him sleep. The pilot's personal medical records were reviewed by the National Transportation Safety Board medical officer. Those records indicated that during the past year, the pilot was treated for hypertension, high cholesterol, prostatism, a chronic pain syndrome, depression, anxiety, panic disorder, attention deficit with hyperactivity disorder, insomnia, and restless leg syndrome.

Additional Information

The trees surrounding the south end of the airstrip were 15 to 20 feet tall versus the trees at the north end of the airstrip which were 75 – 100 feet tall. The pilot's wife stated that in the past the pilot had taken off and landed to the south due to the height of the trees.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the noncertificated airplane during a go-around. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s physical and psychological impairment.