CHI02LA155

The airplane impacted terrain 20-30 feet from the side of the landing runway while the pilot was initiating a left hand turn during the downwind segment of the visual approach. The passenger stated that the airplane's left wing dropped and the nose pitched down during the turn. Ground scarring was limited to an area near the main wreckage, which exhibited a nose down crush angle with no lateral bending of the empennage. No mechanical anomalies were noted.

On June 8, 2002, at 1211 central daylight time, an Aeronca 0-58B, N46899, piloted by a private pilot, was destroyed during an approach for landing at a private airstrip near Alexandria, Indiana. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot and passenger were seriously injured. The flight originated from the Huntington Municipal Airport (HHG), Huntington, Indiana, at 1100, en route to Alexandria Airport (I99), Alexandria, Indiana.

In a written statement, the pilot reported that he departed HHG to attend a luncheon at I99. He stated that the accident occurred on landing approach but due to head trauma he received, he was unable to remember specifics or details pertaining to the accident.

In a written statement, the passenger reported that they entered the downwind from runway 27 and saw another airplane on short final. They continued the downwind and noted that another aircraft on the runway appeared that it would need more time to taxi off the runway as there were no taxiways. They continued on the downwind and then made a left hand turn, midfield, to set up for an overhead approach to allow for more spacing between them and the other aircraft which was now on the ground. While initiating the left hand turn, the airplane suddenly got into an unusual attitude. The left wing dipped down and the nose was pointed toward the ground.

The pilot reported in his written statement that there was no mechanical malfunction failure.

The airplane was resting about 20-30 feet to the side of runway 27 with its nose facing north. Ground scaring consisted of the area underlying the airplane. The nose of the airplane exhibited a nose down crush angle with no lateral deformation the airplane's empennage. Examination of the wreckage by the Federal Aviation Administration revealed no mechanical anomalies.