20121028023729A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · US Light HORNET · Baytown, TX · October 28, 2012

Date: October 28, 2012 · 17:00 local
Place: Baytown, TX
Airport: Rwj Airpark
Phase of flight: Maneuver
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N2482J
NTSB investigation: NTSBCEN13LA034
Reported as: US Light Hornet
Reported engine: HIRTH 2706
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 2
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot

N2482JRegistration cancelled Feb 12, 2018 · US Light HORNETS/N 001 · Built 2000 Airframe modelUS Light HORNET Engine modelHirth 27062 cycle

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Pilot was flying approximately 50 off the ground over farm land. Eye witness stated aircraft flew right over him while he was driving his tractor in the field. The eye witness stated he watched aircraft continue to fly south through field. Pilot pulled up to avoid powerlines that separate field. Eye witness watched as aircraft continued to pull up and it appeared pilot was banking to the left until aircraft was headed north. Aircraft leveled for a split second and went straight into the ground. Aircraft caught fire on impact with ground.

As the FAA filed it

PILOT WAS FLYING APPROXIMATELY 50 OFF THE GROUND OVER FARM LAND. EYE WITNESS STATED AIRCRAFT FLEW RIGHT OVER HIM WHILE HE WAS DRIVING HIS TRACTOR IN THE FIELD. THE EYE WITNESS STATED HE WATCHED AIRCRAFT CONTINUE TO FLY SOUTH THROUGH FIELD. PILOT PULLED UP TO AVOID POWERLINES THAT SEPARATE FIELD. EYE WITNESS WATCHED AS AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO PULL UP AND IT APPEARED PILOT WAS BANKING TO THE LEFT UNTIL AIRCRAFT WAS HEADED NORTH. AIRCRAFT LEVELED FOR A SPLIT SECOND AND WENT STRAIGHT INTO THE GROUND. AIRCRAFT CAUGHT FIRE ON IMPACT WITH GROUND.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB CEN13LA034Accident · 2 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportMont Belvieu, TXThe pilot’s inadequate airspeed management while maneuvering in gusty wind conditions, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the airplane’s low altitude, which did not allow for a stall recovery.Oct 28, 2012 · Substantial damage