# NTSB ATL96LA004: Lopez Lancair 360, N102JL, Atlanta, GA, October 13, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 13, 1995, 16:05 local (20:05 UTC) - Place: Atlanta, GA - Coordinates: 33.780406, -84.380996 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7804&lon=-84.3810&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report July 3, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3665 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL96LA004 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3665/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=3665 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL96LA004 ## Probable cause the noninstrument-rated pilot's intentional VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions which led to a loss of control. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, cruise - normal - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor) - weather condition - fog (contributing factor) - vfr flight into imc - intentional, pilot in command (cause) - lack of certification, pilot in command - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent - uncontrolled - wing - overload - wing - separation - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The noninstrument-rated pilot filed for and received an instrument flight plan clearance from Atlanta to Boca Raton, Florida. The weather at the time of the accident was IMC. Transcripts of radio communications indicated that the pilot was having problems maintaining altitude and heading. Shortly after departure the pilot reported that he thought that one of the aircraft gyros was not operating properly. He later reported that he believed the problem had corrected itself. Witnesses observed the aircraft descend out of the base of the clouds and break up in flight. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On October 13, 1995, at 1605 eastern daylight time, a Lopez Lancair 360, N102JL was destroyed following an in-flight breakup near Atlanta, Georgia. The non-instrument rated private pilot was fatally injured in the accident. The aircraft was being operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 by the pilot. Instrument meteorological conditions existed at the time of the accident, and an instrument flight rules flight plan had been filed for the flight. The flight departed Runway 20 at the Dekalb-Peachtree Airport at 1554, and was destined for Boca Raton, Florida. The non-instrument rated private pilot filed and received an instrument rules flight plan from Atlanta, Georgia to Boca Raton, Florida. Transcripts of radio communications between the pilot and Air Traffic Control (ATC) personnel show that, shortly after takeoff, the pilot reported having problems with one of the aircraft gyro's. The pilot later reported that the gyro problem had corrected itself, but the radio transcript shows that the pilot continued to have difficulty in maintaining heading and altitude assignments. The aircraft was last observed on radar at an altitude of 4,400 feet above mean sea level, and then disappeared off the radar screen. Witnesses, in the accident area, stated they heard a loud bang, and that the aircraft appeared to break-up just prior to impacting the terrain. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot held a private pilot certificate with airplane single engine, multiengine, and helicopter ratings. The Federal Aviation Administration has no record that the pilot had ever held an instrument rating. He held a second class medical certificate issued in May of 1995, with no restrictions. No record of the pilot's flight time could be located. Additional personnel information may be obtained on page 4 of this report under section titled First Pilot Information. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The Lopez Lancair 360 is a homebuilt, low wing, retractable tricycle gear airplane. The aircraft was constructed entirely of composite materials. The airplane was built by Mr. Jorge Lopez, and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) aircraft records show Mr. Lopez as the registered owner of the aircraft. No maintenance records on the aircraft could be located. Additional aircraft information may be found on page 2 of this report under section titled Aircraft Information. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION Instrument meteorological conditions existed at the time of the accident. Additional meteorological information may be obtained on page 4 of this report under section titled Weather Information. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION The aircraft wreckage was distributed over a wooded residential area. The wreckage distribution path was approximately 2,500 feet in length, on a heading of approximately 180 degrees. The first pieces of the wreckage found in the wreckage path were the left and right wings. The leading edges of the wings did not show any signs of impact with the trees. The fuselage was located about mid point of the wreckage site, and the engine was located about 2,500 feet in the direction of distribution from the beginning of the wreckage distribution path. MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION An autopsy of the pilot was performed by Dr. Steven F. Dunton of the Fulton County Medical Examiners Office. The autopsy report lists the cause of death as generalized trauma. A toxicological examination of the pilot was performed by the Federal Aviation Administration Accident and Research Laboratory in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Dr. Soper stated that the examination results were negative for the use of ethanol, and drugs. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N102JL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N102JL-2013-07-30), registration cancelled 2013-07-30, S/N 717320 561 FB, built 1994 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: LOPEZ LANCAIR 360 - Registry model: [Lopez Jorge I LANCAIR 360](https://openairdocs.org/model/lopez-jorge-i-lancair-360) (registry code 05623D5) (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: 717320561FB - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A4K 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Jean M. Maury - Registered owner: Jorge I. Lopez - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: PDK - Destination: BCT, BOCA RATON, FL - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 4 knots - Visibility: 4 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 500 ft overcast - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: PDK, 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 19951013035869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951013035869A), Oct 13, 1995: Amtr COZY, Atlanta, GA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. (.19)On October 13, 1995, at 1605 eastern daylight time, a lopez Lancair 360, N102JL was destroyed following an in-flight breakup near Atlanta, Georgia. The… ## Docket (9 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 6, 1996, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=3665. 1.2 MB in all. - Supplement K (item 1, .PDF, 386 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40048233&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Supplement%20K-Master.PDF - Witness Statement of Mrs. Linda Bell (item 2, .PDF, 21 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384786&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement%20of%20Mrs.%20Linda%20Bell-Redacted.PDF - Personnel Statements of FAA Personnel (item 3, .PDF, 202 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384788&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Personnel%20Statements%20of%20FAA%20Personnel-Redacted.PDF - Transcript of Telephone Conversation Between the Pilot of N102JR and Anderson AFS Station (item 4, .PDF, 335 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384790&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Transcript%20of%20Telephone%20Conversation%20Between%20the%20Pilot%20of%20N102JR%20and%20Anderson%20AFS%20Station-Redacted.PDF - Transcript of Radio Communications (item 5, .PDF, 136 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384792&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Transcript%20of%20Radio%20Communications-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation with Dr. Soper (item 6, .PDF, 21 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384793&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20with%20Dr.%20Soper-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 - Photo of Left (Note Absence of Damage toLeading Edge) (item 7, .PDF, 33 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40048234&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Photo%20of%20Left%20(Note%20Absence%20of%20Damage%20toLeading%20Edge)-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Photo of Right Wing (Note Absence of Damage to Leading Edge) (item 8, .PDF, 29 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40048235&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Photo%20of%20Right%20Wing%20(Note%20Absence%20of%20Damage%20to%20Leading%20Edge)-Master.PDF - Photo 3 - Photo of Main Spar Carry Through (Note Overload Failure of Spar) (item 9, .PDF, 35 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40048236&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20-%20Photo%20of%20Main%20Spar%20Carry%20Through%20(Note%20Overload%20Failure%20of%20Spar)-Master.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.