Loss of Control in Flight · NTSB CEN13LA034
US LIGHT AIRCRAFT CORP HORNET — Mont Belvieu, TX
| Date | October 28, 2012 |
| Location | Mont Belvieu, TX |
| Aircraft | US LIGHT AIRCRAFT CORP HORNET |
| Purpose of flight | Personal |
| Conditions | Day · Visual Meteorological Cond |
| Phase / occurrence | Uncontrolled descent Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) |
| Pilot age | 52 |
| Pilot total time | 378 hrs · Building experience |
| Time in type | Unknown |
| Fatalities | 2 |
Probable cause
NTSB findings
- Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
- Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Gusts-Effect on operation
- Environmental issues-Physical environment-(general)-(general)-Ability to respond/compensate - F
What happened
A witness observed the airplane flying low over a field and reported that the occupants smiled and waved to him. The witness, who was driving a tractor, estimated that the airplane’s airspeed was about 40 mph, which was near the airplane’s reported stall speed. The witness observed the airplane maneuver over power lines before it descended to the terrain. A postimpact fire ensued and consumed most of the fuselage and left wing. At the time of the accident, wind was reported as gusty. An examination of the wreckage did not reveal any preimpact anomalies which would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. The airplane’s maneuver over power lines at a slow speed in gusty wind conditions is consistent with an aerodynamic stall; however, the airplane’s low altitude did not allow for a stall recovery.