# NTSB CEN21FA024: Glasair III, N713MJ, Ford Heights, IL, October 20, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report - Date: October 20, 2020, 17:10 local (22:10 UTC) - Place: Ford Heights, IL - Coordinates: 41.507801, -87.579052 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5078&lon=-87.5791&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Unknown: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO, Lycoming Aircraft Engines - NTSB case key (mKey): 102171 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21FA024 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102171/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102171 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21FA024 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Unknown/Not determined; cases with it: [Michael L Jagmin GLASAIR III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=05637QR), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Unknown: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [Michael L Jagmin GLASAIR III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=05637QR), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Michael L Jagmin GLASAIR III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05637QR), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Michael L Jagmin GLASAIR III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05637QR), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was on a local flight and his flight track indicated he was returning to his departure airport when the accident occurred. A witness reported seeing the airplane at a low altitude “dragging” a light pole across the highway. The airplane then impacted the highway and came to rest in a wooded area alongside the road. Another witness reported that it sounded like the engine lost power and momentarily regained power before losing it again. The wing fuel tanks were breached in the accident, and the amount of fuel on board could not be determined. The two-bladed, constant speed propeller remained attached to the engine. One blade had minimal damage, the second blade’s tip was bent back, starting about mid-span, and the leading edge was rough; this damage was consistent with the propeller not rotating at the time of impact. The engine was equipped with an electric ignition system and was unable to be field tested. The engine examination did not identify any preimpact anomalies that would affect engine operation. The witness statement and signatures on the propeller are consistent with a loss of engine power; however, a reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined based on the available evidence. Reviewed records show that ketamine was administered to the pilot after the crash. Thus, the postmortem toxicology results provide no evidence of any pre-crash use of potentially impairing substances by the pilot. ## Factual narrative On October 20, 2020, about 1710 central daylight time, a Glasair III airplane, N713MJ, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Ford Heights, Illinois. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Witnesses reported seeing the low flying airplane “dragging” the light pole across the highway. The airplane then impacted the highway and came to rest in a wooded area alongside the road. Another witness reported that it sounded like the engine “cut off” and restarted before it lost power again. A review of the airplane’s flight track revealed the pilot departed from Lansing Municipal Airport (IGQ) about 1645 and flew southwest before heading back to IGQ. The accident site was about 3 miles southwest of IGQ. The pilot was not in contact with air traffic control and there are no known distress calls from the pilot. Figure 1: Accident airplane’s flight track The fuselage sustained substantial damage and was separated from the wings. The right wing had leading edge damage consistent with the light pole impact, and the left wing sustained ground impact damage. The engine came to rest inverted and remained partially attached to the fuselage. The wing fuel tanks were breached in the accident, and the amount of fuel on board could not be determined. A postaccident examination of the engine noted that the rear cylinder push rods were bent, the right lower engine mount was broken, and the attachment spring on the propeller governor was broken, consistent with impact damage. The engine cylinders were inspected using a borescope, no pre-impact anomalies were noted. The engine’s crankshaft was rotated by hand; continuity through the engine valve train and to the accessory section was confirmed. The oil pickup screen was clear of debris. Fuel was found at the servo fuel line, and the fuel injectors were clear. Engine control continuity was established. The two-bladed, constant speed propeller remained attached to the engine. One blade had minimal damage, the second blade’s tip was bent back, starting about mid-span, and the leading edge was rough. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s office, Chicago, Illinois, performed an autopsy of the pilot. The pilot’s cause of death was multiple blunt force injuries. No significant natural disease was identified. At the request of the Office of the Medical Examiner, NMS Labs performed toxicology testing on postmortem blood from the pilot. No tested-for substances were detected. The FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory also tested postmortem specimens from the pilot. Amlodipine was detected in femoral blood and urine. Additionally, ketamine was detected at 422 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) in femoral blood and 162 ng/mL in urine, and the ketamine metabolite norketamine was detected at 25 ng/mL in femoral blood. Ketamine is a drug that may be administered in a healthcare setting to produce sedation and anesthesia. It may alsobe used illicitly for its psychoactive effects. Norketamine is a metabolite of ketamine. Reviewed postaccident medical records documented that the pilot was administered ketamine during his postcrash medical care. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N713MJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N713MJ-2021-12-11), registration cancelled 2021-12-11, S/N 3285, built 2018 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Glasair III - Registry model: [Michael L Jagmin GLASAIR III](https://openairdocs.org/model/michael-l-jagmin-glasair-iii) (registry code 05637QR) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540-K1E5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-k1e5) (registry code 41671, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 3285 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: KIGQ, Chicago, IL - Destination: KIGQ, Chicago, IL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; toxicology performed; flight hours: 951 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,100 ft broken - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: IGQ, 4 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 20201020020849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201020020849A), Oct 20, 2020: Michael L Jagmin GLASAIR III, Ford Heights, IL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. The aircraft departed lansing airport (igq) and remained in the traffic pattern for one circuit. The aircraft then departed the pattern to the south. The… ## Docket (12 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 22, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102171. 18.3 MB in all. - Electronic device - specialist's factual report (item 1, PDF, 2 pages, 317 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11917043&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN21FA024%20Electronic%20Device%20-%20Specialist%27s%20Factual%20Report-Rel.pdf - FAA on-scene report (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 365 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12627896&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N713MJ%20%20Inspector%20On_Scene%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Flight track (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 11.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12627077&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Flight%20track-Rel.pdf - Examination report (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 176 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12628128&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Examination%20Summary%20-%20Report-Rel.pdf - Fuel sample (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 132 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12627602&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Fuel%20sample_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records (item 6, PDF, 4 pages, 974 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12627087&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Mx%20records-Rel.pdf - Witness (item 7, PDF, 1 page, 563 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12627612&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Witness_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Statement of party representatives to NTSB investigation (item 8, PDF, 1 page, 112 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12627758&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Party%20Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Toxicological report (item 9, PDF, 1 page, 190 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12628138&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20tox_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 10, PDF, 4 pages, 3.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12628183&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%201-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 11, PDF, 1 page, 407 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12628148&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Wreckage%20Release%20Form%20(02-10-2010)-Rel.pdf - Medical factual report (item 12, PDF, 3 pages, 196 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13585440&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN21FA024_MedicalFactualReport-Rel.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.