ATL96LA025

Witnesses in the area stated that, at about 1215, they heard the airplane overhead for several moments. The airplane engine sounded as though the airplane were slowing down and then speeding up during this time, but the witnesses did not see the airplane. They later observed the airplane disappear into a valley in a near vertical dive. The airplane impacted the terrain about 5 miles northwest of the departure airfield in a near vertical attitude. There was continuity of the aircraft flight controls. The medical examiner did not note any irregularities in the autopsy report that might have resulted in pilot incapacitation. The pilot's flight logbook did not show any evidence of prior experience in the Zlin Z50 LA.

On December 20, 1995, at 1222 central standard time, a Moravan ZLIN Z50 LA, N6660B, was destroyed following a collision with terrain near Springfield, Tennessee. The commercial pilot was fatally injured in the accident. The airplane was being operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight. The airplane departed a private sod airfield near Springfield at an undetermined time, and was enroute to Clarksville, Tennessee.

Witnesses in the area stated that, at about 1215, they heard the airplane overhead for several moments. The airplane engine sounded as though the airplane were slowing down and then speeding up during this time, but the witnesses did not see the airplane. They later observed the airplane disappear into a valley in a near vertical dive.

The airplane impacted the terrain about 5 miles northwest of the departure point. The airplane impacted the terrain in a near vertical attitude.

Examination of the airplane revealed that there was continuity of the aircraft flight controls into the cockpit area.

The pilot's log book did not indicate any previous experience in the Moravan ZLIN Z50 LA.

An autopsy of the pilot was performed by Dr. Charles W. Harlan of the Tennessee State Medical Examiners Office in Nashville, Tennessee. The autopsy report states that the cause of death of the pilot was multiple injuries sustained in the airplane accident.

A toxicological examination of the pilot was performed by the Federal Aviation Administration Toxicology and Accident Research Laboratory in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The toxicology report was negative for the use of drugs or ethanol.