# NTSB ATL01LA077: Kenneth West ARV 582, N3395H, Sebring, FL, July 7, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 7, 2001, 12:17 local (16:17 UTC) - Place: Sebring, FL - Coordinates: 27.460556, -81.348335 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.4606&lon=-81.3483&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report August 26, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Orlando FSDO unit #3 - NTSB case key (mKey): 52667 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL01LA077 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52667/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL01LA077 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain flying speed, followed by a subsequent inadvertent stall spin. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis A experimental ARV 582 airplane impacted the ground on take off in Sebring, Florida. According to witnesses, after departing runway 18, the experimental airplane banked to the right and collided with the ground, in nose low attitude. No evidence of mechanical malfunction or any flight control problems were discovered during the examination of the airplane. ## Factual narrative On July 07, 2001, at 1217 eastern daylight time, a Kenneth West, ARV582 experimental airplane, N3395H, registered to and owned by the student pilot, collided with the ground shortly after takeoff at Sebring Regional Airport, in Sebring, Florida. The personal flight was conducted by the student pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot received fatal injuries and the airplane sustained substantial damaged. The flight departed Sebring Regional Airport, in Sebring, Florida, at 1217. According to witness, he saw the airplane departing runway 18, and remarked that the airplane did not seem to be climbing out very well. He stated that the airplane only reached approximately 50 feet in altitude at the midfield of the runway. The witness then stated that he saw the airplane in a right wing low, nose down steep attitude. The experimental airplane collided with the ramp adjacent to the runway, and skidded approximately 125 feet. Examination of the accident site disclosed that the wreckage of the airplane was located on runway. The cockpit and instrument panel was displaced aft towards the pilot station. The right wing showed signs of wrinkling and buckling. The right wing aileron and flap assembly was still attached to the wing. The fuselage section was compressed forward towards the pilot station. The empennage section was broken at the fuselage section. The rudder was still attached to the vertical stabilizer, and elevator was still attached to the horizontal stabilizer. The tail wheel was still attached to the empennage section. The right main landing gear float was separated from the fuselage. The left landing gear float was still attached to the fuselage. The left wing showed signs of wrinkling and buckling. The left wing aileron and flap assembly was still attached to the wing. Examination of the engine revealed that the Rotax 618 power plant operated normally during the functional check. No evidence of mechanical malfunction or any flight control problems were reported prior to the flight. The pilot held a student pilot certificate. His total flight time was 239 hours in the ARV 582. The pilot held a third class medical certificate, dated January 25, 2000. The medical certificate was valid when wearing corrective lenses. The Sebring 1253 eastern daylight weather observation, reported visibility 10 statute miles, wind 010 at 7 knots, temperature 32 Celsius, dew point 22 Celsius and daylight conditions. Sebring airport has two runways: 36/18 and 34/14. At the time of the accident, runway 18 was in use. Postmortem examination of the pilot was performed by Dr. Melamut at the office of the County Medical Examiner in Lakeland, Florida. The reported cause of death was blunt force trauma. The Forensic toxicology was performed by the FAA Toxicology and Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The toxicological examination showed 0.203(ug/ml, ug/g) fluoxetine in the blood, also 0.715 (ug/ml, ug/g) of norfluoxetine in the blood sample. According to the Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary 26th edition, fluoxetine is an antidepressant. The pilot did not report norfluoxetine or fluoxetine as a prescribed medication on his last physical examination application. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3395H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3395H-2004-08-13), registration cancelled 2004-08-13, S/N DR1010, built 1995 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Kenneth West ARV 582 - Registry model: [West Kenneth C ARV 582](https://openairdocs.org/model/west-kenneth-c-arv-582) (registry code 05626EM) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: DR 1010 - Airframe hours: 578 - Engines: Rotax 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Clifton H. Canter - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, December 19, 2000, 578 hours before - Departed: SEF, Sebring, FL - Destination: SEF - Airport: SEF, Sebring Regional, runway 36, 5,190 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: fatal; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 239 total, 239 in this make and model, 207 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,800 ft broken - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: PGD ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20010707017859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010707017859A), Jul 7, 2001: Amtr DRIFTEARV582, Sebring, FL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. (.19) On July 07, 2001, at 1217 eastern daylight time, kenneth west ARV582 experimental airplane, N3395H, impacted the ground during take-off at Sebring… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.