20000211007869A

(-23) On 2/11/00 at approx. 1435 EST, a seawind 3000 experimental a/c, N94WB, was destroyed after colliding with trees and mountainous terrain while manuevering over Cumberland Gap national historical park, VA. The pilot and one passenger were fatally injured. The accident site was in a remote area on a hillside at an elevation of approx. 2200' and the debris field was approx. 250 yards long. (.4) on February 11, 2000, about 1435 eastern standard time, a homebuilt seawind 3000 amphibian airplane, N94WB, was substantially damaged after colliding with trees and mountainous terrain while maneuvering over Cumberland Gap national historic park, Cumberland, Virginia. The certificated private pilot/owner/builder and passenger were fatally injured. The flight originated in dunellon, Florida, at 0844 destined for pontiac, Michigan, with an intermediary stop in Douglas, Georgia. No flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR part 91. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed. A witness who lived near the park was in his house when he heard the airplane. He was interviewed via telephone by a federal aviation a dministration (FAA) inspector. According to the record of conversation, the witness said: "approximately 3:00 pm - no sight - only heard airplane from indoors. The engine was sputtering, and was coming on and off. He ran outside to the back deck and looked up. There was a lot of fog but he did not see the airplane. He still heard sputtering for about five seconds, then heard the sound of the airplane hitting trees, then silence." A second witness, an engineer, also lived near the park and heard the airplane. In a written statement, he said: "I heard a small plane with the engine at full throttle, about 7 to 10 seconds with no missing sound, but full rev. Also, what sounded like a crash and the cracking of timber and then the engine went silent. I noticed the possible strong wind gusts at 1,300 feet and the accident site was approximately 2,400 feet." A third witness, an auto mechanic, lived near the park and was in his yard working when he observed the airplane flying over his home. He was interviewed via the telephone by an FAA inspector. According to the record of conversation, the witness said: "it was approximately 1430 when he first saw and heard the airplane heading towards the middleboro airport, middleboro, Kentucky. The airplane was white in color. The airplane went directly over his home and made a right turn toward the pinnacle, which is the highest peak in the park. When the airplane turned right, he heard the airplane go full power towards the pinnacle, which was fogged in. The airplane disappeared over the ridge into the cloud cover and then heard a cracking noise of trees then silence. He stated the weather was very cloudy and the pinnacle area was socked in with heavy fog. He was confused as to why the airplane turned off his original heading toward the airport." The airplane collided with terrain inside the Cumberland Gap national historic park, approximately 5 nautical miles southeast of middleboro airport (1A6), middleboro, Kentucky. Two FAA inspectors examined the airplane on-site. An inspector reported that the wreckage path was approximately 250 yards long, at an approximate elevation of 2,200 feet mean sea level (MSL). Both wings were sheered from the airplane at the wing root. The fuselage came to rest on the right side, and the engine separated from the pylon.