20140308002579A

NTSB was at accident scene when FAA arrived. Assisted NTSB in its investigation. Ntsb's preliminary report: on March 8, 2014, about 1858 eastern standard time, an experimental amateur built Lancair Ivp, N724HP, was substantially damaged after a loss of control in Hartsville, south carolina. The private pilot, and the two pilot rated passengers were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight conducted under title 14 code of federal regulations part 91, which departed darlington county jetport (udg), darlington, south carolina. According to witnesses, the private pilot had been having problems with the airplane's landing gear system and had been receiving a "gear unsafe" indication. Earlier on the day of the accident he was observed working on the airplane and when queried by one of the witnesses, the pilot advised him that he was troubleshooting an electrical problem. Later that day, the private pilot and one of the pilot rated passengers, departed udg, flew around the local area "for some time," and then landed at Hartsville regional airport (hvs), Hartsville, south carolina. At 1510 the private pilot refueled the airplane with 50 gallons of fuel and then at approximately 1610 took off alone and returned to udg. Sometime after returning to udg, the private pilot took off again, this time not only with the pilot rated passenger he had been flying with earlier that day but, also with an additional pilot rated passenger. At approximately 1819, a relative of the private pilot received a text message asking him to come to hvs, as the landing gear would not come down. Then at 1836 he received a second message to "call 911." Around the time that the private pilot sent the text, a witness observed the airplane pass by him numerous times during an approximately 15 minute long period. The airplane was "low" to the ground. On the last pass, he could hear the airplane's engine running, and observed the airplane fly across hvs about midfield at 600 to 700 feet above ground level, bank sharply to the left, pitch up to about 25 degrees nose up, then descend rapidly in a nose high attitude until he lost sight of the airplane. Moments later, he heard the sound of impact, and observed a large fire ball and smoke. Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane had struck two trees before making ground contact, and coming to rest next to a row of trees. Multiple pieces of wood were present on the ground which exhibited evidence of propeller strike marks. Examination of the wreckage revealed that it had been exposed to a postcrash fire and that there was no evidence of any preimpact structural failure.