WPR10FA435

The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control while maneuvering at a low altitude.

Witnesses observed the airplane taxi to the runway, and the student reported that the pilot spent about 2 minutes performing a preflight check of the engine. Seconds after liftoff, the pilot made a right turn before the intersection of the crossing active runway, about 200 feet above ground level. Witnesses observed the airplane remain at this altitude while flying a close-in downwind leg over airport buildings. The airplane continued a right turning descent onto the base and final approach legs. The airplane overshot the runway, and the bank angle increased to about 45 degrees. The airplane continued to descend, right wing low, and subsequently impacted the ground adjacent to the runway. It is unknown why the pilot flew this type of maneuver over the airport or if he intended to land on the runway. This was the student's first ride in a light airplane, and she recalled that the pilot banked the airplane steeply right, the wing was nearly perpendicular to the ground, and it "did not look right.” A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

HISTORY OF FLIGHT On August 28, 2010, about 0822 mountain standard time, a Remos Aircraft GMBH, Remos G-3/600, N268RA, crashed while maneuvering shortly after takeoff at the Marana Regional Airport, Tucson, Arizona. The airplane was owned and operated by Tucson Aeroservice Center, Inc., and was substantially damaged during the impact sequence. The commercial pilot held a certified flight instructor (CFI) certificate, and was fatally injured. The student pilot was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 instructional flight, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from runway 03, about 0817. The operator reported that the purpose of the flight was to provide a prospective student with an introduction to aviation. The 16-year-old student reported that the pilot performed a preflight inspection of the airplane and provided an explanation of the flight control system and instruments. Thereafter, the CFI started the engine and taxied for takeoff. This was the student's first ride in a light airplane. The student recalled that the CFI spent between 1 and 2 minutes near the edge of the runway performing a pretakeoff check of the engine. Thereafter, the CFI increased engine power and the airplane took off. The student stated to the Safety Board investigator that she anticipated the flight would last about 1/2 hour. The student further indicated that seconds after liftoff the pilot made a right turn. The student's mother, who was filming the flight, reported that the airplane flew over her location at low altitude. She was standing on the tarmac near the operator's hangar. A pilot-witness who was inbound for runway 12 heard the accident pilot transmit that he was taking off on runway 03, but would not interfere with traffic on the crossing runway 12. According to another pilot-witness who was departing from runway 12, which was predominantly the active runway, the local traffic pattern was fairly busy at the uncontrolled airport. This pilot-witness estimated that the accident airplane turned onto the crosswind leg before the intersection of runway 12, about 200 feet above ground level, then remained at altitude while on the downwind leg over the airport. The accident airplane turned to the right and subsequently crashed; coming to rest adjacent to runway 03. A helicopter pilot-witness on the ground thought that the accident airplane might be performing stunts for the benefit of the people filming the flight and estimated that the airplane was about 50 to 75 feet agl when it banked steeply to the right and began to lose altitude. She reported that its wings were nearly perpendicular to the ground, and that the right wing impacted the ground first. Another witness, who was a commercial pilot observing the accident airplane from the ramp near building 101, first saw the airplane on what appeared to be a "short approach" to runway 3. To this witness it appeared that the airplane's turn exceeded 45 degrees of bank and that the airplane was going to overshoot the runway. The airplane pitched up and then descended to the ground still in the 45-degree bank attitude. Another witness on this road observed the accident airplane to be very low over the airport buildings, which he described as "very unusual." It turned right and proceeded west, but did not appear to climb. It made another right turn near the approach area, then made a steep right-hand bank, descended sharply, and disappeared from sight. This witness reported he saw no smoke or other indications of fire. Several additional witnesses similarly reported observing the airplane following liftoff. The airplane commenced a right turn and entered the downwind leg while still over the airport. After flying a close-in downwind leg, the airplane made a circling descent onto the base and final approach legs while continuing in a right wing low attitude until impact. The student stated to the Safety Board investigator that she recalled the pilot banked the airplane steeply right, the wing was nearly perpendicular to the ground, and it "did not look right." PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot, age 45, held a commercial pilot certificate with airplane ratings for single engine land, multi-engine land, and instruments. His certificate was endorsed for type ratings in DHC-8 and CA-212 airplanes, limited to second-in-command privileges. He also held a flight instructor certificate with single and multi-engine airplanes and instrument privileges. The certificate was issued January 26, 2009. The pilot held a first-class airman medical certificate issued October 12, 2009, without limitations. No flight records were located for the pilot. On his most recent airman medical certificate application completed on October 11, 2009, the pilot reported a total time of 2,645 hours, with 340 accrued in the past 6 months. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The airplane, a Remos Aircraft GMBH G3/600, serial number 231, is a light sport aircraft manufactured in 2007. The operator’s records showed that the last condition/annual inspection was endorsed on August 19, 2009, at a recording tachometer reading of 785 hours, which is also the total time on the airframe and engine. The engine is a Rotax 912UL-S, serial number 5.649.795, and its condition/annual inspection corresponded to the airframe date. AIRPORT INFORMATION The Marana Regional Airport elevation is 2,031 feet msl, and has two asphalt-covered hard-surfaced runways that intersect at a 90-degree angle. Runway 12/30 is 6,901 feet long by 100 feet wide. Runway 03/21 (used by the aircraft on departure) is 3,893 feet long by 75 feet wide. The distance from the end of runway 03 to the point it intersects and crosses runway 12/30 is about 2,800 feet. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION The Marana airport is equipped with an Automated Weather Observation Station (AWOS). At 0825, the station recorded the weather as clear skies; visibility 10 miles; temperature 25 degrees Celsius; dewpoint 18 degrees Celsius; and wind from 011 degrees at 11 knots. None of the witnesses observed any unusual weather phenomena in the vicinity. FLIGHT RECORDERS A Garmin 496 global positioning satellite receiver was installed in the airplane's instrument panel. The receiver was not damaged in the accident. The receiver had the capability of recording the airplane's flight track. The data and the plotted flight path were consistent with the witness observations. In addition, the airplane was equipped with a Rotax FLTdat data recorder that records engine performance parameters. Review of the data showed that it was corrupt and not usable. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION The airplane came to rest in an upright attitude about 70 feet south-southwest of the airport's windsock for runway 03. This location was about 70 feet west of the runway's left side, in a level dirt field, and nearly abeam runway 03's threshold. There was no fire. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector responded to the accident site and documented the wreckage prior to its removal to a secure location. The FAA inspector reported no evidence of a preimpact flight control anomaly and fuel was noted in the fuel tanks. MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION The pilot was transported to a hospital; however, later died secondary to injuries received in the accident. An autopsy was performed by the Pima County Medical Examiner's Office. The autopsy did not disclose any evidence of physical incapacitation or impairment that would have adversely affected the pilot's ability to operate the aircraft. The cause of death was attributed to blunt force injuries. The FAA Civil Aerospace Medical Institute, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, performed forensic toxicology on specimens from the pilot with negative results for alcohol. Ephedrine was detected in urine