# NTSB ATL99LA083: Michael W. Campbell Lancair 320, N6111, Tallessee, AL, May 11, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 11, 1999, 10:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Tallessee, AL - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report November 2, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46277 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL99LA083 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46277/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=46277 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL99LA083 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain flying speed during the takeoff to initial climb that resulted in the a stall and the inflight collision with the trees. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The purpose of the flight was to demonstrate a high speed, low altitude pass over the runway. During climb out the airplane entered a nose-up attitude followed by a nose-down attitude. A witness reported that the airplane entered a counter clockwise spin, and collided with the ground in a wooded area. A tree in the immediate vicinity of the impact point was damaged. A witness also reported that the engine continued to run at a high RPM rate throughout the sequence of flight events. Examination of the accident site disclosed the airplane rested in a nose down attitude at the base of a large tree. Examination of the airframe confirmed that flight control cables and control surfaces were connected. Examination of the airframe and engine assembly failed to disclose a mechanical malfunction or a component failure. ## Factual narrative On May 11, 1999, at 1000 central daylight time, a Campbell Lancair 320, N6111, collided with a tree and the ground during climb out from the Reeves Airport in Tallessee, Alabama. The personal flight was operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The commercial pilot was fatally injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The local flight departed Tallessee, Alabama, at 0959. According to a friend of the pilot, who was located at the Reeves Airport at the time of the accident, the purpose of the flight was to demonstrate a high speed, low pass over the runway. The pilot's friend reported that, during climb out there was a short radio conversation with the pilot followed by an abrupt end to the conversation. At this point, the airplane entered a nose-up attitude followed by a nose-down attitude. Another witness reported that the airplane entered a counter clockwise spin. The airplane collided with the ground and was located in a wooded area with the nose section still in a nose-down attitude. A tree in the immediate vicinity of the impact point was damaged. A witness also reported that the engine continued to run at a high RPM rate throughout the sequence of flight events. Examination of the accident site disclosed the airplane rested in a nose down attitude at the base of a large tree. There were several fresh slash marks several feet above the ground. Wreckage debris was scattered in the immediate vicinity of the main wreckage. The engine assembly was buried in the ground several inches, and the instrument panel was displaced aft into the pilot's station. Further examination of the airframe confirmed that flight control cables and control surfaces were connected. The engine assembly sustained extensive impact damage. Examination of the airframe and engine assembly failed to disclose a mechanical malfunction or a component failure. A post mortem examination was performed on the pilot on May 11, 1999, at Alabama Department of Forensic Science in Montgomery, Alabama. A review of the toxicological examination disclosed that 0.014 (ug/ml, ug/g) of diphenhydramine (antihistamines) was detected in the blood; an unspecified quantity of diphenhydramine was detected in the urine sample. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6111](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6111-2000-05-01), registration cancelled 2000-05-01, S/N 1 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Michael W. Campbell LANCAIR 320 (LANCAIR 32) - Registry model: [Campbell Michael W LANCAIR 320](https://openairdocs.org/model/campbell-michael-w-lancair-320) (registry code 05618WT) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1 - Engines: Lycoming IO-260-EXP 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: George R. Beatty - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: 41A - Airport: 41A, Reeves Airport, runway 13, 3,232 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 3,500 total, 200 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MGM, 20 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 19990511004959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990511004959A), May 11, 1999: Amtr LANCAIR320, Tallassee, AL, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. (Tty) acft crashed under unknown circumstances, the pilot/sole occupant suffered fatal injuries, the acft was destroyed. (.19) on may 11, 1999, at 1000 central… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 22, 2000, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=46277. 1.3 MB in all. - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 1, .PDF, 204 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384847&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Police Report (item 2, .PDF, 432 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384848&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Police%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Toxicological Report (item 3, .PDF, 67 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384850&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Toxicological%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Copy, Airplane Engine Maintenance Logs (item 4, .PDF, 593 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384851&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Copy,%20Airplane%20Engine%20Maintenance%20Logs-Redacted.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.