CEN22FA109

The noncertificated pilot, who had no previous training or flight experience, texted his friend to ask if he, the pilot, could taxi the airplane on a private airstrip, which was located at the friend’s residence. At the time of the pilot’s request, the friend was not at his residence. The friend arrived home about 1645 and observed the pilot taxiing the airplane. About 1700, the friend observed the airplane airborne, and the pilot completed two touch-and-go landings on the private airstrip. The airplane departed to the south and did not return. About 30 minutes later, the friend located the accident airplane, which had crashed in a field near the pilot’s residence, about 2 miles from his private airstrip. There were no witnesses to the accident. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical anomalies or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The ground scar, impact signatures on the airplane structure, and wreckage fragmentation patterns were consistent with an aerodynamic stall, loss of control, and impact with terrain.

According to the pilot’s friend, the pilot had been working on the kit airplane for several months in preparation to have the airplane certificated. On January 30, 2022, about 1710 mountain standard time, N3177F, a Christavia MK1 airplane, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Oral, South Dakota. The uncertificated pilot sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot’s friend, the pilot texted him to ask if he, the pilot, could taxi the airplane on the private airstrip, which was located at the friend’s residence. At the time of the pilot’s request, the friend was not at his residence. The friend arrived home about 1645 and observed the pilot taxiing the airplane. About 1700, the friend observed the airplane airborne, and the pilot completed two touch-and-go landings on the private airstrip, then departed to the south. About 1720, the friend texted the pilot to inquire about his location and there was no response. The friend then departed in his Piper airplane to look for the pilot. The friend located the accident airplane, which had crashed in a field near the pilot’s residence, about 2 miles from the private airstrip. The friend then returned to his private airstrip to respond to the accident site in his personal vehicle. The friend noted the pilot had the lap belt restraint secured, and the shoulder harness restraint was not used. There were no witnesses to the accident. According to the pilot’s friend and Federal Aviation Administration records, the pilot did not hold a pilot certificate and had no previous training or flight experience. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the left-wing aft spar was separated at the wing root, and the wing was displaced forward. The lower forward fuselage was crushed upward and aft. The outboard right wing displayed leading edge aft crush damage. A ground scar consistent with the wing leading edge was located below the wing. The engine was displaced downward and to the right (see figure). The fixed-pitch propeller was located about 5 ft forward of the main wreckage and was separated at the engine crankshaft flange. The propeller blades displayed forward twisting deformation. Figure. Accident Airplane Flight control continuity was established from the cockpit controls to all of the flight control surfaces. The airframe and engine examination revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.