STAR LITE SL1 — Corning, CA

What happened

Witnesses stated that the pilot initiated a barrel roll and was pulling out of the bottom of the roll when the left wing separated from the airplane’s fuselage. The airplane subsequently collided with the ground. All major structural components of the airplane were located within the wreckage path, with the left wing about 60 yards from the main wreckage. The owner disposed of the airplane wreckage before an examination could be conducted.

The pilot held a student pilot certificate and reported 120 total hours of flight experience on the application for that certificate; however, no pilot logbooks were located and the pilot’s flight experience and training history could not be determined. According to the pilot’s wife, the pilot had recently been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and was being treated for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Reviewed records contained no further details regarding the student pilot’s health conditions or any associated symptoms. Although the owner’s disposal of the wreckage prevented further examination of the wing’s failure, based on witness statements the pilot likely intentionally attempted an aerobatic maneuver, lost control, and was not able to recover due to the low altitude.

Postmortem toxicology testing was positive for methamphetamine and bupropion; both drugs were disqualifying for FAA pilot medical certification. The use of bupropion and amphetamine without the addition of a mood stabilizing medication in persons with bipolar disorders may increase the risk of mania or manic behavior. Even in individuals without bipolar disorder, amphetamine use can adversely affect cognition, perception of risk, and judgment/decision-making. The pilot exhibited increased risk-taking behavior by attempting to perform aerobatics with inadequate experience (as a student), in a non-aerobatic airplane, leading to a catastrophic structural failure. The pilot’s likely mental health condition and substance use placed him at an increased risk of impaired judgment; however, the diagnoses of the pilot’s mental health condition(s) could not be verified, and the pilot’s baseline risk tolerance is unknown. Thus, whether the pilot’s mental health condition(s) or use of bupropion and amphetamine contributed to the accident cannot be determined.

An editorial "what led to it / how to avoid it" analysis for this accident is generated separately and will appear here.