# NTSB CHI00LA082: Ellis Q2, N84DG, Shelbyville, IN, February 25, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 25, 2000, 13:35 local (18:35 UTC) - Place: Shelbyville, IN - Coordinates: 39.519618, -85.769348 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5196&lon=-85.7693&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report July 26, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 48755 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI00LA082 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/48755/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI00LA082 ## Probable cause aircraft control not being maintained by the pilot during the attempted go-around. Factors to the accident were the inadequate preflight by the pilot, which resulted in fuel exhaustion. An additional factor to the accident was the inadvertent stall/mush. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, go-around (vfr) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (contributing factor) - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Loss of control - in flight, descent - emergency - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis A witness to the accident reported that during an attempted go-around the airplane's engine was missing and running rough. The witness stated that the airplane entered a descending left turn, impacting the terrain in a 30-45 degree left bank. Post accident inspection of the airplane revealed that the main and header fuel tanks had ruptured, but no fuel spill or fuel odor was noted at the accident site. Witnesses/first responders to the accident site reported that there were no fuel odors around the accident site. Inspection of the engine failed to reveal any anomalies that could be associated with any preexisting condition. A fuel receipt was obtained for the accident airplane's last fueling. The date of the fuel receipt was listed as November 28, 1999, and 6.2 gallons of fuel were purchased for the accident airplane. ## Factual narrative On February 25, 2000, at 1335 eastern standard time (est), an Ellis Q2, N84DG, owned and piloted by an airline transport pilot, was destroyed during an in-flight collision with terrain following a loss of control during a go-around from runway 19 (5,000 feet by 100 feet, dry/asphalt) at the Shelbyville Municipal Airport, Shelbyville, Indiana. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 and was not on a flight plan. The pilot, the sole occupant, was fatally injured. The local flight originated from the Shelbyville Municipal Airport approximately 20 minutes prior to the accident. According to a pilot-rated witness, the airplane was on final approach for runway 19 when the airplane began a go-around. The witness described the engine operation, during the go-around, as "missing and running rough". The witness reported that the airplane entered a descending left turn, impacting the terrain in a 30-45 degree left bank. Post accident inspection of the airplane revealed that the main and header fuel tanks had ruptured, but no fuel spill or fuel odor was noted at the accident site. Witnesses/first responders to the accident site reported that there were no fuel odors around the accident site. Inspection of the engine failed to reveal any anomalies that could be associated with any preexisting condition. A fuel receipt was obtained for the accident airplane's last fueling. The date of the fuel receipt was listed as November 28, 1999, and 6.2 gallons of fuel were purchased for the accident airplane. An autopsy was performed on the pilot on February 26, 2000, at the Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana. The Federal Aviation Aeromedical Institute, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, prepared a forensic toxicology report. The test results indicated that there was 0.011 (ug/ml, ug/g) Tetrahydrocannabinol (Marijuana) detected in lung tissue, and that Tetrahydrocannabinol Carboxylic Acid (Marijuana metabolite) was detected in blood and lung tissue. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N84DG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N84DG-2017-07-12), registration cancelled 2017-07-12, S/N Q2461, built 1984 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Ellis Q2 - Registry model: [Ellis Keith Q2](https://openairdocs.org/model/ellis-keith-q2) (registry code 05645PC) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Revmaster 2100](https://openairdocs.org/engine/revmaster-2100) (registry code 52550, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: Q2461 - Airframe hours: 318 - Engines: Revmaster 2100 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ora Merrill Proffitt - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: GEZ - Airport: GEZ, Shelbyville Municipal, runway 19, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; airline transport, commercial, private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 12,550 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 16 knots, gusting 21 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 162 °F, dew point 131 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: GEZ ## 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 20000225040639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000225040639A), Feb 25, 2000: Amtr Q2, Shelbyville, IN, No damage. (.19) On February 25, 2000, at 1335 eastern standard time (EST), an ellis Q2, N84DG, owned and piloted by an airline transport pilot, was destroyed during an… 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.