# NTSB ERA10LA431: Maxair MU 582 Drifter, N582RH, Old Forge, NY, August 18, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 18, 2010, 11:10 local (15:10 UTC) - Place: Old Forge, NY - Coordinates: 43.714168, -74.940834 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.7142&lon=-74.9408&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report November 17, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 77004 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10LA431 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77004/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77004 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10LA431 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to use the full length of the lake, which necessitated a steep turn to avoid obstacles during takeoff that resulted in an accelerated stall. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Maxair MU 582 DRIFTER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05902SA), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Response/compensation; cases with it: [Maxair MU 582 DRIFTER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=05902SA), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Maxair MU 582 DRIFTER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=05902SA), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Maxair MU 582 DRIFTER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05902SA), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Maxair MU 582 DRIFTER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05902SA), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the passenger, the pilot had planned to fly the airplane to the opposite end of the lake. He said that the pilot taxied about 3/4 of the way down the lake, turned around, and started the takeoff roll. The airplane began to climb within 300 feet, but the pilot noticed an approaching line of trees on the shore, so he banked the airplane steeply to avoid hitting the trees. The passenger said that, when the pilot banked the airplane, all forward momentum was lost and they seemed to freefall. The passenger estimated that the airplane fell to the ground from a height of about 100 feet and impacted a swamp in a nose- down attitude. He said that the engine continued to operate throughout the entire accident sequence. A postaccident examination of the engine revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On August 18, 2010, about 1110 eastern daylight time, an experimental light sport Maxair MU 582 Drifter, N582RH, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain shortly takeoff from First Lake, near Old Forge, NY. The certificated private pilot was fatally injured and the passenger incurred minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight, which was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The passenger provided a statement to the New York State Police, which recounted the events that took place during the accident flight. According to the passenger, the pilot planned to fly the airplane to the opposite end of the lake to meet several family members. After fueling the airplane and taxiing about "three quarters down the lake", the pilot oriented the airplane into the wind and began the takeoff. The airplane began to climb within 300 feet, but shortly thereafter, and as the airplane was approaching a line of trees on the shore, the passenger heard the pilot state "this isn't good." The pilot the advised the passenger to, "hang on" as he banked the airplane steeply to the right. The passenger further described, "We banked so hard that we lost all forward momentum and started to free fall." The airplane's engine continued to operate throughout the entire accident sequence until the airplane impacted the ground. The passenger estimated that the airplane fell to the ground from a height of about 100 feet, and impacted a nose down attitude in a swamp. Two other individuals watched the airplane during the takeoff and recounted a similar series of events to the New York State Police. According to the witnesses, the airplane initially taxied to the north, before it turned around and began a takeoff to the south. The airplane climbed to about 100 feet above the ground, and as it reached a tree line, banked right. One witnesses described that the airplane looked like it was "completely sideways", before it "did a nose dive" in to a swampy area. PERSONNEL INFORMATION A review of FAA airman records revealed that the pilot held a private pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land and sea. The pilot's most recent third-class medical certificate was issued in August 1998, and at that time the pilot reported 3,000 total hours of flight experience. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION According to FAA records, the airplane was manufactured in 1989, and certificated as an experimental light sport aircraft in 2007. The maintenance records were not recovered. Review of the airplane's operating limitations showed an aircraft empty weight of 473 pounds, and a listed gross weight of 1,150 pounds. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION The 1053 recorded weather at Griffiss International Airport (RME), Rome, New York, located about 36 nautical miles southwest of the accident site, included calm winds, clear skies, 10 statute miles visibility,temperature 19 degrees C, dewpoint 16 degrees C, and an altimeter setting of 30.10 inches of mercury. The calculated density altitude was 2,654 feet. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION The airplane was examined at the scene by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector. According to the inspector, control continuity could not be confirmed due to the disassembly of the aircraft that was conducted by first responders in order to extricate the pilot. The engine crankshaft was rotated by hand and compression was confirmed on all cylinders. All spark plugs appeared "normal," and residual fuel was present in the fuel lines from the fuel tanks to the carburetor. MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION A postmortem examination of the pilot was conducted by the Herkimer Counter Coroner, Little Falls, New York. The FAA’s Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, performed toxicological testing of the pilot. Fluid and tissue specimens from the pilot tested negative for carbon monoxide, cyanide, and ethanol. The test was positive for the presence of the drug Metoprolol. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The airplane's weight at the time of the accident was estimated using assuming a combined pilot and passenger weight of 400 pounds, a fuel weight of 90 pounds, and an installed float weight of 116 pounds. The gross weight was calculated to be 1,079 pounds. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N582RH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N582RH), registered now, S/N 107, built 1989 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MAXAIR MU 582 DRIFTER - Registry model: [Maxair MU 582 DRIFTER](https://openairdocs.org/model/maxair-mu-582-drifter) (registry code 05902SA) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 582SER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582ser) (registry code 55556, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 107 - Engines: ROTAX 582 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Departed: NONE, Old Forge, NY - Destination: NONE, Old Forge, NY - Airport: NONE ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 3,000 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: RME, 36 nm away ## 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 20100818053489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100818053489A), Aug 18, 2010: Maxair MU 582 DRIF, Old Forge, NY, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Piltot w/ one passenger aboard attempted to depart 1st lake. At the time of the accident, wind conditions were light, the water conditions were calm, the… ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 30, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77004. 6.9 MB in all. - Passenger's Statement (item 1, .PDF, 452 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353638&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Passenger%27s%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statements (item 2, .PDF, 445 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353640&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Redacted.PDF - Accident Site Map (Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 892 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353631&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Site%20Map%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record - Email Correspondence with FAA Inspector (item 4, .PDF, 51 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353634&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Email%20Correspondence%20with%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Photo 1 - Accident Airplane, From Left (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353635&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Accident%20Airplane,%20From%20Left%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Accident Airplane, From Aft (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353636&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Accident%20Airplane,%20From%20Aft%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 3 - Accident Airplane, From Right (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 7, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353637&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20-%20Accident%20Airplane,%20From%20Right%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Toxicological Report (item 8, .PDF, 72 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353639&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Toxicological%20Report-Redacted.PDF 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.