- Date
- February 22, 1993, 11:50 local (16:50 UTC)
- Place
- Quinton, VA
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- UNREGMorgan Challenger II
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 18, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 11903
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's impairment due to a neurological injury and drugs, and his failure to maintain control of the airplane during an approach to land. A factor related to the accident was the gusty wind condition.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The unregistered homebuilt was observed to take off, remain in the pattern, land back on the runway, then take off again. As it turned onto the final approach leg, it suddenly nosed down and struck the ground about 1/2 mi from the runway. No mechanical malfunctions were found with the engine or airframe. The winds were reported as 18 KTS gusting to 22. The pilot's certificates were previously revoked because of 'sustained permanent neurological injury' from a previous homebuilt accident. Toxicology tests of the pilot's liver tissue revealed 1.7 mg/kg of imipramine, 6.0 mg/kg of desipramine, and o.2 mg/kg of lidocaine (prescription drugs).
Aircraft
- Registration
- UNREG
- Reported as
- Morgan Challenger II (CHALLENGER)
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- CH21290CWO59
- Engine
- Hirth 2703-2C, 55 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Jerry Wayne Morgan
- Registered owner
- [ Not Registered ]
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Unknown · January 2, 2000
- Departed
- W96
- Destination
- W96
- Airport
- W96 · New Kent, runway 28, 3,600 × 75 ft, asphalt
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 46
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Unknown, Invalid Medical for flight
- Seat
- Front
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 1,075 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 250° at 18 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility
- 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 64 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- RIC, 8 nm away