# NTSB CEN21FA230: Sub-Sonex JSX-2, N465JC, Shreveport, LA, May 23, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report - Date: May 23, 2021, 14:47 local (19:47 UTC) - Place: Shreveport, LA - Coordinates: 32.500874, -93.858316 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5009&lon=-93.8583&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 103128 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21FA230 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103128/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103128 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21FA230 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance with the water while performing aerobatics, resulting in the airplane’s impact into a lake. Contributing was the pilot’s decision to perform aerobatics at low altitude. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [John M Corneal SUBSONEX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=05634VQ), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [John M Corneal SUBSONEX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05634VQ), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [John M Corneal SUBSONEX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=05634VQ), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [John M Corneal SUBSONEX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05634VQ), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis Automatic dependent surveillance broadcast track data showed the airplane take off and shortly thereafter maneuver low-level over the lake until track data was lost. A witness reported that he and several others saw the airplane fly across the lake at an altitude of about 200 ft above the water. The witness reported that just before the accident he saw the airplane roll to the right until it was inverted and then it abruptly nosed down and impacted the water in a near vertical attitude. Another witness reported seeing the airplane performing a barrel roll over the lake during the previous week. The airplane's wreckage was recovered and examined. Airframe damage showed that the airplane impacted the water in a near-vertical, nose-low, right-wing-down attitude. Flight control continuity was confirmed, and the engine and engine control unit showed no preaccident malfunctions or failures that could have contributed to the accident. Toxicology testing showed the pilot had used the potentially impairing drugs sertraline, bupropion, quetiapine, gabapentin, and pramipexole. However, is not possible to reliably predict the combined effects of these drugs or how they affected any impairment from underlying medical conditions the pilot had. In addition, the small amount of ethanol detected may have been produced after the pilot’s death. ## Factual narrative Title 14 CFR Part 91, General Operating and Flight Rules, Subpart D Special Flight Operations, Paragraph 91.303 Aerobatic flight states: No person may operate an aircraft in aerobatic flight— (a) Over any congested area of a city, town, or settlement; (b) Over an open air assembly of persons; (c) Within the lateral boundaries of the surface areas of Class B, Class C, Class D, or Class E airspace designated for an airport; (d) Within 4 nautical miles of the center line of any Federal airway; (e) Below an altitude of 1,500 feet above the surface; or (f) When flight visibility is less than 3 statute miles. For the purposes of this section, aerobatic flight means an intentional maneuver involving an abrupt change in an aircraft's attitude, an abnormal attitude, or abnormal acceleration, not necessary for normal flight. The pilot/owner acquired the airplane on July 17, 2020. No mechanical discrepancies were noted in the maintenance logbook. According to entries in the airframe logbook, the airplane completed its Phase One flight testing for airworthiness for standard flights on July 10, 2017. No entries were found after Phase Two for flight testing to perform aerobatics maneuvers. The airplane was equipped with a Ballistic Recovery System (BRS). Upon recovery, the BRS system appeared to have been activated and deployed upon impact On May 23, 2021, about 1447 central daylight time, a Sub-Sonex JSX-2 experimental jet airplane, N465JC, was destroyed when it impacted Cross Lake near Shreveport, Louisiana. The pilot sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight. The intent of the flight was to fly over Cross Lake after departing the Shreveport Regional Airport (SHV). Automatic dependent surveillance broadcast (ADS-B) track data indicated the airplane departed runway 24 at SHV, about 1439:00. The airplane made a right turn to the northeast and proceeded to fly over Cross Lake. (Figure 1) Figure 1. Overall flight track. Figure 2. Flight path over Cross Lake and the accident location. The ADS-B track data showed the airplane maneuver low-level over the lake until track data was lost at 1446:14. (Figure 2) At the last track data point, the airplane was over Cross Lake at an altitude of 625 ft above mean sea level, 142 kts ground speed, and on a 100o heading. An onboard Garmin GDU 460 cockpit display recorded 13 minutes and 9 seconds of the airplane’s flight. At the last recorded point at 1446:20, the airplane was about 400 ft above ground level (agl), 170 knots indicated airspeed, and heading 100o. Before the data was lost, the airplane pitch showed an abrupt pitch up to 15°. A witness reported that he and several other people were on a pier and saw the airplane fly low across the lake at about 200 ft agl. The witness reported that just before the accident he saw the airplane roll to the right until it was inverted and then it abruptly nosed down and impacted the water in a near verticalattitude. One person asked the witness if it was a “little red jet” that had crashed, and the witness said that it was. The person then told the witness that he and his wife had been on the lake the previous Sunday and saw the airplane performing a barrel roll over the lake. An autopsy of the pilot was performed by the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Department of Pathology, Shreveport, Louisiana. The cause of death was determined as blunt force injuries due to an airplane crash and the manner of death was an accident. The FAA Civil Aerospace Medical Institute Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Branch, Forensic Sciences Laboratory performed toxicology testing of postmortem specimens from the pilot. Sertraline was detected at 31 ng/mL and its metabolite desmethylsertaline was detected at 53 ng/mL in cardiac blood. Both sertraline and desmethylsertaline were also detected in urine. Bupropion was detected at 18 ng/mL and its metabolite hydroxybupropion was detected at 128 ng/mL in cardiac blood. Both bupropion and hydroxybupropion were also detected in urine. Quetiapine was detected in cardiac blood and urine. Gabapentin was detected at 719 ng/ml in cardiac blood and was also detected in urine. Pramipexole was detected in urine but not in cardiac blood. Amlodipine was detected in cardiac blood and urine. Ethanol was not detected in cardiac blood. The pilot held type ratings in the CE-500, EA-500S, IA-Jet, LR-60 (Second-in-Command only), LR-Jet, and MS-760. He was authorized to fly the AV-L39 and the Sub-Sonex experimental aircraft VFR only. The airplane's wreckage was located submerged in a shallow recreational lake. The airplane’s cabin and cockpit sections were broken open. The right wing was crushed aft along the entire span of the spar. The left wing was separated at the fuselage and was folded rearward and buckled. The empennage was buckled forward. The right ruddervator showed impact crush damage to its leading edge. The left ruddervator had minimal impact damage. Flight control continuity was confirmed. The airplane’s engine was separated from the fuselage at the pylon base. Witness marks on the ring cowling corresponded to similar marks on the top fuselage. The engine was rotated by hand and drive continuity was established from the compressor rearward to the exhaust. The inlet compressor blades did not show any deformation and showed no binding during rotation. The engine control unit was recovered and downloaded and showed that the engine functioned normally up to the time of the accident. The BRS cockpit deployment lever was found in the stowed position. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N465JC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N465JC-2023-08-18), registration cancelled 2023-08-18, S/N JSX-0006, built 2017 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Sub-Sonex JSX-2 - Registry model: [John M Corneal SUBSONEX](https://openairdocs.org/model/john-m-corneal-subsonex) (registry code 05634VQ) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [PBS Velka TJ100](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pbs-velka-tj100) (registry code 49600, turbo-jet) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: JSX-0006 - Year built: 2017 - Airframe hours: 103 - Engines: PBS TJ-100 45 lbs thrust turbo jet - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, July 12, 2020, 43 hours before - Departed: SHV, Shreveport, LA - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: n/a - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; injuries: fatal; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: single; restraint: 5-point; toxicology performed; flight hours: 18,000 total, 93 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 18,000 ft broken - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: KSHV, 4 nm away - METAR: KSHV 231956Z 12005KT 10SM FEW044 SCT180 BKN270 29/17 A3015 RMK AO2 SLP206 T02890167 ## 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 20210523009999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210523009999A), May 23, 2021: John M Corneal SUBSONEX, Shreveport, LA, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. Aircraft departed Shreveport regional (shv), heading 332 degrees climbing to 939FT. At approximately 3 miles from shv, aircraft descended between 300 and 400… ## Docket (12 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 7, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103128. 8.6 MB in all. - Cockpit display - specialist's factual report (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15530364&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Cockpit%20Display%20-%20Specialist%27s%20Factual%20Report-CEN21FA230-Rel.pdf - Attachment 1 to cockpit display - specialist's factual report (item 2, CSV, 258 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15529147&FileExtension=csv&FileName=Attachment%201%20to%20Cockpit%20Display%20-%20Specialist%27s%20Factual%20Report-CEN21FA230-Rel.csv - Engine control unit - specialist's factual report (item 3, PDF, 6 pages, 521 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15530374&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Engine%20Control%20Unit%20-%20Specialist%27s%20Factual%20Report-CEN21FA230-Rel.pdf - Attachment 1 to engine control unit - specialist's factual report (item 4, CSV, 120 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15530874&FileExtension=csv&FileName=Attachment%201%20to%20Engine%20Control%20Unit%20-%20Specialist%27s%20Factual%20Report-CEN21FA230-Rel.csv - Field examination report (item 5, PDF, 7 pages, 537 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16015231&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Field%20Exam%20Report%20Shreveport,%20Sub-Sonex-Rel.pdf - Witness statement (item 6, PDF, 2 pages, 223 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16044419&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Richard%20Eglin%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - N465JC accident flight tracks (item 7, PDF, 3 pages, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15956443&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N465JC%20Accident%20Flight%20Tracks-Rel.pdf - GPS data (item 8, CSV, 256 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15954362&FileExtension=csv&FileName=Garmin%20Data-Rel.csv - Medical factual report (item 9, PDF, 10 pages, 198 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16011615&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN21FA230_MedicalFactualReport-Rel.pdf - Toxicological report (item 10, PDF, 2 pages, 202 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15955063&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Toxicology%20Report,%20Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 11, PDF, 9 pages, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15955684&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N465JC%20Photographs-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 12, PDF, 1 page, 453 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16031007&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Signed%20Form%20N465JC_Redacted-Rel.pdf From the NTSB's public API. 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