# NTSB ATL02LA092: Hartman Buccaneer 2, N8127W, Estero Bay, FL, April 27, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 27, 2002, 16:15 local (20:15 UTC) - Place: Estero Bay, FL - Coordinates: 26.466667, -81.983329 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.4667&lon=-81.9833&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report April 1, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Tampa FSDO-35 - NTSB case key (mKey): 54607 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL02LA092 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54607/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54607 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL02LA092 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control for undetermined reasons. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Loss of control - in flight, descent - uncontrolled - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - water ## Analysis Witnesses observed the airplane flying overhead between 150 to 200 feet. The airplane was observed to make a hard right turn estimated at more than a 45-degree right bank into a strong wind. The right wing dropped, the nose pitched down, and the airplane started spinning to the right before it collided with the water. Review of operating specifications for the experimental homebuilt Buccaneer amphibian airplane indicated that the stall speed is 25 mph. Due to the extent of damage to the airplane, the FAA inspector was unable to conduct an airframe, flight control, and engine assembly examination. ## Factual narrative On April 27, 2002, at 1615 eastern daylight time, a Hartman Buccaneer 2 experimental airplane, N8127W, registered to a private owner, operating as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, crashed into Estero Bay, Estero, Florida, while maneuvering. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was destroyed. The private pilot sustained fatal injuries. The flight departed from an unknown location at an unknown time. Witnesses stated they were on their boat in Estero Bay. An airplane was observed flying overhead between 150 to 200 feet. The airplane was observed to make a hard right turn estimated at more than a 45-degree right bank into a strong wind. The right wing dropped, the nose pitched down, and the airplane started spinning to the right before it collided with the bay. Boaters went over to assist and the pilot and a dog were removed from the wreckage. Review of specifications for the Buccaneer amphibian airplane revealed the stall speed is 25 mph. Due to the extent of damage to the airplane, the FAA inspector who traveled to the site was unable to conduct an airframe, flight control, and engine assembly examination. The hour meter found in the wreckage read 43.6 hours. According to the parents of the pilot, they were unable to locate the aircraft records or the pilot's logbook. The airplane wreckage was recovered by Sea Tow Towing, Cape Coral, Florida, and was sold as scrap. The nearest weather reporting facility at the time of the accident was Fort Myers, Florida. The 1553 surface weather observation was: 6,500 scattered, visibility 10 miles, temperature 90 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point temperature 61 degrees Fahrenheit, wind 140-degrees at 10 knots, and altimeter 30.10. The Associate Medical Examiner, District 21, Fort Myers, Florida, conducted postmortem examination of the pilot on April 29, 2002. The cause of death was multiple blunt force trauma. Postmortem toxicology of specimens from the pilot was performed by the Forensic Toxicology Research Section, Federal Aviation Administration, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The results were negative for carbon monoxide, cyanide, ethanol, basic, acidic, and neutral drugs. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8127W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8127W-2003-01-06), registration cancelled 2003-01-06, S/N B2A047, built 1989 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Hartman Buccaneer 2 - Registry model: [Hartman Richard J BUCCANEER II](https://openairdocs.org/model/hartman-richard-j-buccaneer-ii) (registry code 9570838) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: B2A047 - Airframe hours: 44 - Engines: Rotax 447 reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Robert C. Pierce III - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: Estero Bay, FL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; toxicology performed; flight hours: 265 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: RSW, 10 nm away ## 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 20020427015099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020427015099A), Apr 27, 2002: Amtr BUCCANEERII, Estero Bay, FL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. (-23) On April 27, 2002, at approximately 1600 local time, an experimental amateur-built aircraft model buccaneer ii, N8127W, registered to robert c. pierce,… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 13, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54607. 852 KB in all. - Lee County Sheriff's Report (item 1, .PDF, 697 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436416&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Lee%20County%20Sheriff%27s%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statements (item 2, .PDF, 30 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40172878&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Redacted.PDF - Statements (item 3, .PDF, 41 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436417&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statements-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 4, .PDF, 29 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436418&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Toxicological Report (item 5, .PDF, 55 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436420&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Toxicological%20Report-Redacted.PDF 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.