- Date
- September 1, 1996, 16:21 local (20:21 UTC)
- Place
- Union Pier, MI
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 1 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N238PWKarr Titan Tornado
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 23, 1997
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960901025419A
- Case key
- 10381
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot not obtaining/maintaining altitude/clearance. Factors were the pilot not maintaining aircraft control and intentional aerobatics.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The aircraft was observed conducting aerobatics over Lake Michigan near a beach at Union Pier, Michigan. During the fifth successive 'hammerhead turn' the airplane departed controlled flight and impacted the surface of the lake. A post accident examination of the airplane revealed no pre-impact anomalies.
Factual narrative
On September 1, 1996 at 1621 eastern daylight time, a Karr Titan Tornado, N238PW, was destroyed during impact with the surface of Lake Michigan (terrain) following a intentional low level aerobatic maneuver. The surviving passenger stated that the pilot was performing the fifth consecutive "hammerhead turn" when the accident occurred. The pilot sustained fatal injuries and the passenger minor injuries. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was on file. The flight departed Valpariso, Indiana, about 1521, on a local flight.
Witnesses at the scene confirmed the passenger's description of the accident, indicating that they observed the airplane doing low level aerobatic maneuvers at the time of the accident.
The Federal Aviation Administration inspector determined that the pilot was holder of a student pilot's certificate and a third class medical certificate dated March 30, 1995. On the application for that medical the pilot stated that he had a total pilot time of 36 hours.
A post accident examination of the airplane failed to reveal any mechanical anomalies. The passenger reported no mechanical problems.
The post mortem examination of the deceased pilot indicated he was afflicted with "Acute Viral Hepatitis B." There is no indication from the medical examiner's report that the disease had the potential of incapacitation for the pilot. The cause of death was indicated as from drowning.
The aircraft wreckage was released to representatives of the owner on September 5, 1996.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N238PW
- Reported as
- Karr Titan Tornado (TITAN TORN)
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Engine
- Rotax 582, 90 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Patrick S. White
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed
- VPZ · Valparizo, IN
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 25
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 36 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.