ERA10FA052

The flight's descent for undetermined reasons, resulting in the in-flight collision with terrain.

The non-instrument rated pilot departed at night for an intended flight over the Everglades, to a destination airport north of the departure airport. After takeoff, while flying in a northerly direction over an area with no ground reference lights other than from vehicles on an east/west highway, the airplane climbed to a maximum altitude of 2,800 feet, then began descending at a rate of 3,000 feet-per-minute and flew over the highway. The airplane then deviated slightly to the right at the end of the flight, and impacted into the Everglades. The pilot had only accumulated 2.8 hours of total night experience, all of which was flown in the same night, 8 months prior to the accident. Examination of the airframe, flight controls, engine, and engine accessories revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical failure or malfunction. Total electrical failure was eliminated because transponder returns were noted from the beginning of the flight to within 0.3 nautical miles of the crash site. Additionally, light bulb filament stretching consistent with electrical power at impact was noted for the cockpit overhead light bulb. Although the pilot had a history of coronary artery disease and had a cardiac catheterization and stent placement 2 years prior to the accident, the autopsy did not reveal any evidence of the presence of an incapacitating medical event during the accident flight. Additionally, the investigation revealed no evidence of the pilot suffering from fatigue or sleep apnea.

HISTORY OF FLIGHT On November 8, 2009, about 1840 eastern standard time, an Aero Commander 100, N4139X, registered to a private individual, crashed into the Everglades north of Interstate 75 (I-75), near Weston, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed in the area at the time and a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight from Kendall-Tamiami Executive Airport (TMB), Miami, Florida, to Robins Air Force Base (WRB), Warner Robins, Georgia. The airplane sustained substantial damage and the certificated private pilot, the sole occupant was killed. The flight originated from TMB about 1818. The VFR flight plan indicated the estimated time en route was 5 hours, with an estimated time of arrival of 2320. The flight was to be flown at 4,500 feet mean sea level (msl), with a planned fuel stop at Ocala International Airport-Jim Taylor Field (OCF), Ocala, Florida. A witness at TMB reported observing two male individuals wearing military uniforms performing what the witness thought to be a preflight inspection of the accident airplane. The witness also reported that the accident airplane was fueled after his airplane was fueled. The witness did not observe the airplane taxi out or depart. According to a transcription of communications with TMB air traffic control tower, the flight was cleared for takeoff at 1818:22, with a left turn approved; the pilot acknowledged this communication and there were no further recorded communications with the TMB ATCT. At 1829:01, or approximately 11 minutes before the accident, the pilot established contact with the Lockheed Martin Miami automated international flight service station (Lockheed Martin AIFSS) and remained in contact with that facility until his last transmission began at 1831:44. While in contact with that facility, the pilot requested activation of his VFR flight plan, and the briefing specialist advised the pilot of weather information and flight restrictions. Following the pilot’s last transmission, there was no further recorded contact with the Lockheed Martin AIFSS). Additionally, there was no record of any contact with Miami Approach Control. According to a NTSB Radar Ground Track, an uncorrelated radar return about 2 minutes 24 seconds after the flight was cleared for takeoff from 9L was noted approximately 0.78 nautical mile and 038 degrees from the departure end of runway 9L. The radar targets of the uncorrelated radar data track continue in a northerly direction and depict the aircraft climbing to an altitude of 2,800 feet pressure altitude, and remaining at that altitude between 1838:26, and 1839:08. The uncorrelated radar data indicates the airplane began descending, with the last radar return of 1,000 feet pressure altitude located at 18:40:27. The target at that time was located at 26 degrees 08.833 minutes North latitude and 080 degrees 43.266 minutes West longitude. Several witnesses reported seeing the airplane flying in a northerly direction while descending. One witness reported seeing external lights from the airplane as it passed in front of their car. No witnesses reported seeing smoke or fire trail the airplane while descending. Numerous witnesses called 911 to report the accident. A search for the wreckage by law enforcement and fire rescue assets from the Broward Sheriff’s Office, and assets from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) began immediately following the 911 phone calls. The wreckage was first spotted by the Broward Sheriff’s Office helicopter at 1916. The airplane crashed at night in an area where the only nearby ground reference lights were from vehicles traveling on I-75, and lights from a rest stop located several miles east of the crash site. The crash site was located at 26 degrees 09.119 minutes North latitude and 080 degrees 43.204 minutes West longitude, or approximately 11 degrees and 0.29 nautical mile from the last non-correlated radar return. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot, age 49, held a private pilot certificate with airplane single engine land rating first issued on December 15, 1995, and held a special issuance third class medical certificate issued on February 21, 2008, which was not valid for any class after November 30, 2008. Additionally, on October 14, 2008, the FAA Aerospace Medical Certification Division sent a letter to the pilot advising that he was eligible for continued Authorization for Special Issuance of a third-class medical certificate. The medical certificate was enclosed with a letter stating that the “time-limited certificate expires November 30, 2009.” Review of the pilot’s pilot logbook (pilot logbook) that was found in the wreckage revealed his first logged flight (an orientation flight) occurred on July 22, 1992, and the last logged flight was dated March 13, 2009. He logged a total time of approximately 476 hours, of which approximately 390 hours were as pilot-in-command. His last flight review in accordance with 14 CFR Part 61.56 was performed in the accident airplane on November 8, 2008; the logged flight duration was 1.0 hour. Further review of the pilot logbook revealed the pilot’s first logged flight in the accident airplane occurred on April 11, 2001. He logged a total time of approximately 196 hours in the accident airplane, and he logged three night flights which occurred on March 13, 2009; the total flight duration of all three was 2.8 hours. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The Aero Commander 100 airplane was manufactured in 1968, and was designated serial number 239. It was powered by a 150 horsepower Lycoming O-320-A2B engine and equipped with a fixed pitch propeller. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records indicate that the pilot has owned the airplane since July 23, 2001. Review of the maintenance records revealed that the airplane was last inspected in accordance with an annual inspection on October 1, 2008; the airplane total time at that time was 2,615.2 hours. The airplane had accumulated about 74 hours since the inspection at the time of the accident. Title 14 CFR Part 91.409(a)(1) indicates that no person may operate an aircraft unless, within the preceding 12 calendar months, it has had an annual inspection in accordance with 14 CFR Part 43 and has been approved for return to service. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION A surface observation weather report taken at the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport (FLL), at 1853, or approximately 13 minutes after the accident indicates the wind was from 080 degrees at 17 knots with gusts to 25 knots, the visibility was 10 statute miles, scattered clouds existed at 3,000 and 6,500 feet above ground level, the temperature and dew point were 27 and 19 degrees Celsius respectively, and the altimeter setting was 30.05 inches of Mercury (inHg). The accident site was located approximately 31 nautical miles west-northwest from FLL. According to the U.S. Naval Observatory Astronomical Applications Department, in close proximity to the accident site the sunset occurred at 1736, and the end of civil twilight occurred at 1801, which were 1 hour 4 minutes and 39 minutes respectively, before the accident. COMMUNICATIONS The pilot was not in contact with any Federal Aviation Administration air traffic control facility at the time of the accident. A transcription of communications with the TMB Air Traffic Control Tower was prepared and there were no reported communication difficulties. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION Examination of the accident site revealed the airplane crashed into the Everglades approximately 850 feet north of the west bound lanes of Interstate 75 (I-75). The wreckage came to rest heading approximately 090 degrees, with both wings, the left horizontal stabilizer, and the engine with attached propeller separated. All components necessary to sustain flight were found in close proximit