ATL98LA073

The airplane collided with the ground near the Savannah River. According to the FAA, there were no witnesses to the accident. The previous owner stated that the pilot had just purchased the airplane that week and was taking it for a test flight. The pilot had no previous experience with this type of airplane. The pilot departed the area and was not heard from again. The pilot's medical certificate was not current at the time of the accident and the pilot's logbook was not recovered. His last reported flight time on his medical certificate was 2400 total civilian hours. Examination of the airplane by the FAA found it destroyed and the aircraft logbooks were not recovered.

On May 3, 1998, about 0800 eastern daylight time a Challenger II, Homebuilt, unregistered airplane, was located after it collided with the ground near the Savannah River in Savannah, Georgia. The airplane was operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight. The private pilot and sole occupant sustained fatal injuries and the airplane was destroyed. The flight originated from a private airstrip in Hinesville, Georgia on May 2, 1998, at 1745.

According to the FAA, there were no witnesses to the accident. The previous owner stated that the pilot had just purchased the airplane that week and was taking it for a test flight. The pilot had no previous experience with this type of airplane. The pilot departed the area and was not heard from again. Witnesses in Hinesville, Georgia reported the airplane had struck a tree with the right wing twice on two previous attempts to take off. On the third takeoff, the airplane climbed to about 1200 feet and flew in a southerly direction. The airplane was found by local authorities about 0800 the following day.

The private pilot held a certificate for airplane single engine land. His certificate was issued on June 10, 1964. His last medical certificate, a third class, was issued March 18, 1996. It held the limitation that the pilot must wear corrective lenses in order to exercise the privileges of the airman's certificate. The pilot's medical certificate was not current at the time of the accident. The pilot's logbook was not recovered. His last reported flight time on his medical certificate was 2400 total civilian hours.

The aircraft logbooks were not recovered.

Autopsy and Toxicology analysis were done by Michael R. Ladwig, MD. Chatham County Coroners Office, Georgia.