# NTSB ATL05LA005: Moody Easy Riser, N87EZ, Augusta, GA, October 17, 2004

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 17, 2004, 15:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: Augusta, GA
- Coordinates: 33.45972, -82.033889
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4597&lon=-82.0339&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report September 13, 2005
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Atlanta FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 61276
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL05LA005
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61276/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL05LA005

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed which resulted in an inadvertent stall/spin, and subsequent collision with the ground.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - base turn
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

According to witnesses, the pilot was finishing the final demonstration and turning from downwind to left base at approximately 150 feet. The pilot stated that while he was banking the airplane to the left, he lost visual contact with the ground, and stalled the airplane. The airplane collided with the ground on the west end of runway 23. The post-accident examination of the airplane revealed the fuselage was buckled. No flight control or mechanical anomalies were reported by the pilot prior to the accident.

## Factual narrative

On October 17, 2004, at 1500 eastern daylight time, an experimental Moody Easy Riser, N87EZ registered to and operated by a private pilot, collided with the ground during a turn back for landing demonstration at Daniel Field, Augusta, Georgia. The personal flight was conducted 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 pilot received serious injuries. The flight departed Daniel Field, Georgia on October 17, 2004 at 1445.

According to witnesses, the pilot was finishing the final demonstration and turning from downwind to left base at approximately 150 feet. The pilot stated that while he was banking the airplane to the left, he lost visual contact with the ground, and stalled the airplane. The airplane collided with the ground on the west end of runway 23.

The post-accident examination of the airplane revealed the fuselage was buckled. No flight control or mechanical anomalies were reported by the pilot prior to the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N87EZ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N87EZ-2013-05-30), registration cancelled 2013-05-30, S/N JKM3, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Moody Easy Riser
- Registry model: [Moody John K EASY RISER](https://openairdocs.org/model/moody-john-k-easy-riser) (registry code 05607CR) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: JKM3
- Engines: Hirthmotoren F36A15 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: John K Moody
- Registered owner: John K Moody
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: DNL, AUGUSTA, GA
- Destination: DNL
- Airport: DNL, Daniel Field, runway 23, 4,002 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 650 total, 200 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 230° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observed at: DNL

## 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 20041017034859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041017034859A), Oct 17, 2004: Amtr EASYRISER, Augusta, GA, Substantial damage. (-23) Experimental aircraft easy rider N87EZ piloted by [privacy data omitted] was finishing an act during which the wheels and false tail are removed and the…

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.

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