# NTSB ATL98LA073: Quad City Ultralight Challenger II, Savannah, GA, May 3, 1998

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 3, 1998, 08:00 local (12:00 UTC)
- Place: Savannah, GA
- Coordinates: 31.979978, -81.079574 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.9800&lon=-81.0796&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 2, 1999
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 3991
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL98LA073
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3991/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL98LA073

## Probable cause

In flight collision with terrain for undetermined reasons. A contributing factor was the pilot's lack of familiarity with the aircraft.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
  - lack of familiarity with aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

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.

## Factual narrative

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.

## Aircraft

- Registration: UNREG (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Quad City Ultralight Aircraft CHALLENGER II (CHALLENGER)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 0308
- Engines: Rotax 582 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Charles Winston Phillips
- Departed: PVT, HINESVILLE, GA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 65; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,400 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SAV, 20 nm away

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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