ATL02LA061

While conducting low pass maneuvers on runway 20. The airplane entered a steep bank and began to spiral towards the ground. Examination of the wreckage site revealed, all flight controls were present at the accident site, and no mechanical or flight control malfunction prior to the accident were reported.

On March 8, 2002, at 1730 central standard time, a Moore Sammie, M-Breezy, experimental airplane, N9167C, registered to a private owner/operator, collided with the ground after takeoff at Pell City Airport, Alabama. The personal flight was operated by the 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 airplane sustained substantial damage, and the private pilot received fatal injuries. The flight originated from Pell City, Alabama.

According to witnesses, the airplane made several low altitude passes along runway 20 with steep turn maneuvers to reverse the direction. During the last steep turn maneuver, the airplane began a downward spin. The airplane continued this spiral until it hit the ground. The spiral began approximately 300 feet above the ground. The witnesses pulled the pilot from the wreckage, and began cardio pulmonary resuscitation and first aid. They worked on the pilot until the rescue personnel arrived.

A Lycoming 0-320, 180 horsepower engine, powered the experimental airplane. Airplane logbooks were not recovered for examination.

The pilot held a private pilot certificate with an airplane single engine land rating. The pilot's total flight time was approximately 1250 hours. The pilot held a third class medical certificate, dated October 1, 2001 with no waivers or limitations.

The Anniston Metropolitan Airport 1753 weather observation reported winds 160 at 9 knots with gusts up to 15 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, temperature 23 degrees Celsius, and a dew point of 8 degrees Celsius. There were few clouds at 6500 feet above ground level with no ceiling. The altimeter was 30.19. Visual conditions prevailed at the time of accident; conditions of light were dusk.

Examination of the wreckage site revealed, the airplane came to rest at the north end of runway 20. The airplane showed signs of crush damage. All flight controls and flight surfaces were present at the site. The pilot did not report any mechanical or flight control malfunction prior to the accident.

The State Toxicology and Accident Research Laboratory in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma performed the forensic toxicology. The toxicological examination showed 33.476 (ug/ml, ug/g) ACETAMINOPHEN (over the counter pain reliever) detected in the urine, also 85.639 (ug/ml, ug/g) SALOYLATE detected in the urine. Dr. Dennis Russell, St. Clair County Coroner, Leeds, Alabama, preformed the postmortem examination of the pilot on March 8, 2002. The cause of death was head trauma.