19970809021389A

Aircraft wing struck runway while executing a high speed maneuver, hit a berm. (.19) on August 9, 1997 at approximately 1130 eastern daylight time, an experimental riekkenen ryelong le, N4YC, was destroyed when it impacted the terrain while executing a low altitude maneuver at Wurtsboro-sullivan county airport, Wurtsboro, new york. The certificated commercial pilot/owner, the sole occupant, was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR part 91. Numerous witnesses watched as the airplane departed on runway 23 and climbed into a left hand traffic pattern. The pilot extended downwind while maintaining altitude. The witnesses stated that the turns to base leg and final were done in such a way as to lose altitude and accelerated the airplane. The airplane arrived at the approach end of runway 23, at approximately 20 feet above ground level, and at very high rate of speed. Approximately two thirds of the way down the runway, the airplane climbed to about 100 feet and commenced a left roll. Half way through the roll, in the invert ed position, witness statements concurred that the nose of the airplane fell below the horizon and the airplane began to descend. The airplane continued to roll, but the rate of descent increased, and the airplane impacted the ground with the right wing first in approximately 30 degrees nose down and 30 to 45 degrees right wing down attitude.