20021228035149A

(.19) On December 28, 2002, at 1510 hours mountain standard time, an experimental lipscomb Lancair 235, N777KL, collided with terrain after a loss of control during an aborted landing on runway 24 at the Payson Airport (pan), Payson, Arizona. The airplane was operated by the pilot/owner under the provisions of 14 CFR part 91, and sustained substantial damage. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local area flight, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight departed pan about 1420, and was scheduled to terminate at pa. According to a witness, the pilot had purchased the airplane on December 26. The witness stated that on the day of the accident, he had taxied the airplane from the hangar to the ramp so that the accident pilot could do some fast taxi tests. On the second taxi test the airplane became airborne, and the pilot departed the airport environment. The witness made several attempts to radio the pilot; however, there was no response. Another witness stated that he and his family were about 10 to 15 minutes out of pan when they heard UNICOM attempting to contact a pilot. UNICOM informed them to be on the lookout for an experimental airplane that was not communicating with anyone, but was in the area. The witness stated that they saw the airplane, and continued with their landing. Once they landed they taxied to the refueling pit. They were speaking to some of the airport people when they saw the accident airplane. The witness stated that the airplane made two approaches that culminated in go-arounds. On the third approach, the airplane landed hard about 1,500 feet down the runway. The airplane bounced into the air, landed back on the runway, and they heard the engine power up to abort the landing. The witnesses saw the airplane's nose pitch up, pitch down, then the left wing dropped, and the airplane impacted the ground. The witness who had taxied the airplane stated that he heard the engine power up during the aborted landing. The airplane became airborne. He saw the left wing bobble, then the airplane made a 90-degree left turn, rolled inverted, and impacted the ground. Other ground witnesses reported that the pilot had trouble maintaining pitch control. One witness stated that the "pitch attitude was all over the place. Nose up, nose down . . . Nose up, nose down." Another witness stated that while he was out flying, he had a near miss with the accident airplane. A review of the pilot's logbook by a federal aviation administration inspector revealed that the pilot had no Lancair flight time, and had not flown since may 2002. (-23) on dec. 28, 2002 the new owner of N777KL (raymond martenez ruiz aka ray martinez) boarded the aircraft for his initial flight in the aircraft. The witnesses present provided the following description of events: ray performed a high speed taxi test down runway 24 to get familiarized with the aircraft. He then taxied back to the departure end of rwy 24 for take-off. The aircraft was seen to be unstable in pitch and roll after take-off and departure from the airport operations area. It departed to the north and then turned east at a low altitude until visual contact was lost. During ground operations and various times during the flight witnesses attempted to contact the aircraft via the local radio UNICOM frequency. There was never any radio transmission received from N777KL during the flight. After some length of time (estimate of 1/2 hour to 1 hour) the aircraft was first heard and then observed in a left hand pattern for rwy 24. The aircraft was flying below traffic pattern altitude and was not spotted unitl it was on base leg. On final it appeared to be trying to line up on the runway heading but was too FAR to the right of centerline and approximately 200 feet high. The pilot executed a go-around and attempted another approach for landing. The second landing attempt was executed with similar results as the first. After going-around a second time the aircraft lined up on the runway but ws below glidepath on the third/final approach. Aircraft was configured with flaps and gear down. It contacted the runway abruptly within the first third of the runway and bounced into the air. The nose dropped and the aircraft contacted the runway again at approximately mid way down the runway. The impact caused the aircraft to bounce into the air again. Power was applied for a go-around. The aircraft pitched up to a nose high altitude and stayed that way while beginning climb out. The left wing rolled down and the aircraft entered a stall/spin to the left from altitude of approximately 100 feet. The aircraft impacted the ground in an extreme nose down attitude. The left wing tip and engine contacted the ground first approximately 18 feet to the left of the centerline. Upon impact with the ground the pilot was ejected from the aircraft. The canopy broke loose from the aircraft and was found next to the pilot. The fuel header tank broke loose from the aircraft and was found within 2 feet of engine impact area. The aircraft continued moving and came to rest inverted approximately 50 feet to the left hand side of the centerline, 3/4 of the way down rwy 24, and pointing 90 degrees to the left of runway heading. The engine broke loose from the aircraft, turned 180 degrees to direction of flight, and was sitting upside-down on top of the inverted aircraft. Both blades of the wooden propeller had shattered but the hub was still attached to the crankshaft. The tail of the aircraft broke loose from the fuselage and was held only by control cables.