CHI01FA077

The airplane was destroyed on impact with terrain while performing a low altitude maneuver. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. A witness stated, "As the plane traveled southbound and gained altitude, it rolled over once doing a 'Barrel Roll'. Immediately after that the nose of the plane went up into the air and then looped back over it's self doing a 'loop-d-loop'. It appeared that the plane then went nose first into the tree line where I lost sight of it." Another witness stated, "The wind at the time was 260 degrees at 9 knots gusting to 17 knots. With these conditions there are very bad wind shear conditions from about end of 33 for about 1 mile south up to about 400 feet." The pilot did not list any visits to health professionals within the last three years and listed "No" for "Do You Currently Use Any Medication (Prescription or Nonprescription)?" on his application for his medical. The pilot visited a doctor on June 23, 1999 and was prescribed Celexa. The last annual was dated June 22, 1999. Both propeller blades had chordwise scratches and leading edge nicks. Continuity was established to the flight control surfaces and to the engine. The engine produced a thumb compression at all cylinders. A blue liquid was in the fuel servo. The magnetos produced spark. No anomalies were found. The FAA CAMI report stated CITALOPRAM was detected in Blood and in Liver. The PDR online stated Citalopram hydrobromide is a prescription used to treat "major depression...."

History of flight

On February 4, 2001, about 1218 central standard time, a Watson Steen Skybolt, N50BW, piloted by an airline transport pilot, was destroyed on impact with terrain while performing a low altitude maneuver near the pattern for runway 33 at Camdenton Memorial Airport (H21), near Camdenton, Missouri. The personal flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was on file. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The flight departed from Carrollton Memorial Airport, near Carrollton, Missouri, at time unknown, and was destined for H21.

A witness stated:

Aircraft made a pass down runway 15 (clearing pass) and started a

climbing turn to right and I assumed he would make a left base for

runway 33. I rushed to finish what I was doing as I was waiting for

him. My next awareness was he had crashed - [the airport manager]

came and told me. The wind at the time was 260 degrees at 9 knots

gusting to 17 knots. With these conditions there are very bad wind

shear conditions from about end of 33 for about 1 mile south up to

about 400 feet. Doing landings with students I have had up to 200

feet altitude loss and a loss of 10 to 15 knots indicated airspeed. This

always occures with westerly winds 10 knots or greater.

Another witness stated:

On Sunday, 02/04/01, at approximately 12:00 to 12:20 hrs I was

sitting in the parking lot of Speedline Technologies on S. Hwy 5. I

observed a white double winged airplane coming from the north and

appeared to be taking off from the runway of the Camdenton Memorial

Airport. As the plane traveled southbound and gained altitude, it rolled

over once doing a 'Barrel Roll'. Immediately after that the nose of the

plane went up into the air and then looped back over it's self doing a

'loop-d-loop'. It appeared that the plane then went nose first into the

tree line where I lost sight of it. I contacted Camden County Sheriff's

Department Dispatch and advised them that there was a possible plane

crash at the airport, but I was not sure as to where it was. At that time

myself and [a witness] drove down county Rd. 5-120 trying to locate

that crash. Unable to see it from the road, we then started walking

towards the runway. ... I observed the plane that I had seen flying

earlier on the ground just off the asphalt and facing towards the north.

Personnel information

The pilot was an airline transport pilot. He held a Third Class Medical Certificate dated April 20, 2000. On his application for that medical certificate, he listed his total pilot time to date as 25,678 hours and 20 hours in the past six months. That application did not show any visits to health professionals within the last three years. That application asked, "Do You Currently Use Any Medication (Prescription or Nonprescription)?" The answer "No" was checked for that question.

The pilot's medical records were reviewed. The records showed that the pilot visited a doctor on June 23, 1999. The records stated that the pilot complained "of depression with significant rage." His treatment plan included a "prescription for CELEXA." These records did not show that the patient was a pilot.

Aircraft information

The airplane was a Watson Steen Skybolt, serial number W-001. The airplane's special airworthiness certificate was issued on May 12, 1994. The last found annual condition inspection was dated June 22, 1999. The tachometer entry at that condition inspection was 435 hours. The tachometer read 488.44 hours on-scene.

Meteorological information

At 1215, the Lee C. Fine Memorial Airport, near Kaiser Lake Ozark, Missouri, weather was: Wind 320 degrees at 9 knots gusting to 17 knots, variable from 260 degrees to 010 degrees; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition broken 3,600 feet; temperature 7 degrees C; dew point -2 degrees C; altimeter 30.08 inches of mercury.

Wreckage and impact information

The airplane was found approximately 28 feet east of runway 33's taxiway and approximately 424 feet north of the beginning of that taxiway's pavement. The airplane's heading was approximately 320 degrees and its directional gyro was found indicating 340 degrees. The airplane was found with its propeller impacted approximately two feet down into terrain. The terrain was found to be soft and it contained various sized rocks. The terrain rose in elevation on the side of the airplane's left wing. The upper wing was crushed downward. The engine was found under the airplane's upper wing. Both main landing gear were found crushed rearward and outward. The lower engine cowl was crushed upward and rearward. The empennage was found twisted, downward and to the right, aft of the rear seat. Both propeller blade backs exhibited chordwise scratches and their leading edges contained nicks. (See appended photographs)

An on scene investigation was performed. Continuity was established to the flight control surfaces. Control continuity was established to the engine. The engine produced a thumb compression and suction at all cylinders and valve train continuity was confirmed. A blue liquid was found in the fuel servo. The magnetos were found to produce spark to 11 of 12 leads. No anomalies were found.

Medical and pathological information

The Boone/Callaway County Medical Examiners Office performed an autopsy on the pilot on February 6, 2001.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Civil Aeromedical Institute prepared a Final Forensic Toxicology Accident Report. The report indicated:

0.314 (ug/ml, ug/g) CITALOPRAM detected in Blood

CITALOPRAM present in Liver

0.157 ug/mL, ug/g N-DESMETHYCITALOPRAM detected in Blood

N-DESMETHYCITALOPRAM present in Liver

0.011 ug/mL, ug/g DI-N-DESMETHYCITALOPRAM detected in Blood

0.65 ug/mL, ug/g DI-N-DESMETHYCITALOPRAM detected in Liver

Additional information

The parties to the investigation included the FAA and Textron Lycoming.

The aircraft wreckage was released to a representative for Universal Loss Management insurance.

FAA regulations stated:

61.53 Prohibition on operations during medical deficiency.

(a) Operations that require a medical certificate. Except as

provided for in paragraph (b) of this section, a person who

holds a current medical certificate issued under part 67 of

this chapter shall not act as pilot in command, or in any

other capacity as a required pilot flight crewmember, while

that person:

(1) Knows or has reason to know of any medical condition

that would make the person unable to meet the requirements

for the medical certificate necessary for the pilot operation; or

(2) Is taking medication or receiving other treatment for a

medical condition that results in the person being unable to

meet the requirements for the medical certificate necessary for

the pilot operation.

91.17 Alcohol or drugs.

(a) No person may act or attempt to act as a crewmember of a civil

aircraft -

(1) Within 8 hours after the consumption of any alcoholic beverage;

(2) While under the influence of alcohol;

(3) While using any drug that affects the person's faculties in any

way contrary to safety; or

(4) While having 0.04 percent by weight or more alcohol in the blood.

(b) Except in an emergency, no pilot of a civil aircraft may allow a

person who appears to be intoxicated or who demonstrates by manner or

physical indications that the individual is under the influence of

drugs (except a medical patient under proper care) to be carried in

that aircraft.

(c) A crewmember shall do the following:

(1) On request of a law enforcement officer, submit to a test to

indicate the percentage by weight of alcohol in the blood, when -

(i) The law enforcement officer is authorized under State or local law

to conduct th