# NTSB ERA18LA249: Edward R. Sugg Sonex, N75SX, Marion, SC, September 12, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 12, 2018, 13:20 local (17:20 UTC) - Place: Marion, SC - Coordinates: 34, -79 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0000&lon=-79.0000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report April 20, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 98286 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA18LA249 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98286/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98286 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18LA249 ## Probable cause Impact with terrain for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information. ## 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: [Sugg Edward R SONEX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=056232P), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Sugg Edward R SONEX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=056232P), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Sugg Edward R SONEX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=056232P), [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: [Sugg Edward R SONEX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=056232P), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The 85-year-old commercial pilot was conducting a local pleasure flight in his experimental, amateur-built airplane. A witness near the accident site saw the airplane flying at low altitude before it entered a "straight up" climb followed by a descent and continued "straight down" toward the ground. It did not appear that the pilot attempted to pull out of the dive. Examination of the airplane and engine revealed no mechanical discrepancies that would have precluded normal operation. Despite the pilot's age, his daughter stated that he had no known medical issues (cardiac, respiratory or physical) that would interfere with his flying, and no evidence of incapacitation or impairment were identified by the autopsy and toxicology testing. The reason for the airplane's impact with terrain could not be determined based on the available information. ## Factual narrative On September 12, 2018, about 1320 eastern daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built Sonex airplane, N75SX, was destroyed when it impacted terrain while maneuvering near Marion, South Carolina. The commercial pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight, which departed Florence Regional Airport (FLO), Florence, South Carolina, at an unknown time.According to the pilot's daughter, her father was going for a local pleasure flight before Hurricane Florence moved through the area. A witness, who was standing in his backyard about 1/4-mile from the accident site, heard the airplane's engine and it sounded like it had "...a whole lot of power." When he saw the airplane, he thought it was a crop duster because it was low to the ground, and then climbed straight up before it dove straight down as if it was going to "make a pass." But the airplane continued straight toward the ground and there did not appear to be an attempt by the pilot to "pull out" of the dive. The airplane descended behind a tree line and the witness heard it impact the ground. The 1353 weather observation at FLO, located about 19 miles west of the accident site, included wind from 090° at 6 knots, 10 miles visibility, scattered clouds at 9,000 ft above ground level, temperature 33°C, dew point 23°C, and an altimeter setting of 30.08 inches of mercury. The airplane impacted a field and the engine, cockpit, both wings, and the tail section sustained substantial damage. There was no postimpact fire. Due to Hurricane Florence, the airplane was recovered to a storage facility, where it was examined on November 15, 2018. The airplane was relatively intact, but the left wing was separated from the fuselage. Flight control continuity was established from all major flight controls to the cockpit area and the flaps were found in the retracted position. The main landing gear had separated from the fuselage. The fuel tank and fuel strainer were not located; however, all fuel lines were dry and unobstructed. The engine was separated from the firewall; both wooden propeller blades had separated from the hub and were not recovered with the wreckage. The engine was rotated manually via the starter ring and crankshaft continuity was established. The Nos. 1 and 3 spark plugs were removed, and the electrodes exhibited rust/corrosion deposits and normal wear. The Nos. 2 and 4 spark plugs exhibited normal wear per the Champion Check-a-Plug chart. The oil filter had separated from the engine and was crushed. The carburetor was separated from the engine and the bowl had separated from impact. The carburetor was partially disassembled, and no residual fuel was observed. No mechanical deficiencies were observed that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane or engine. A handheld Garmin GPS 195 and aGrand Rapids 2000 EIS engine monitor were found in the wreckage and sent to the National Transportation Safety Board's recorder laboratory for download. Both units sustained impact damage and no data could be recovered. A review of maintenance records revealed that the last condition inspection for the airplane and engine was completed on November 18, 2017, at a tachometer time of 640.5 hours and engine total time of 236.1 hours. A review of the airplane's flight time logbook revealed that the pilot regularly flew the airplane, and the last entry/flight was made on September 8, 2018, at a total tachometer time of 761.8 hours. The 85-year-old pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single- and multiengine land and instrument airplane. He also held a flight instructor certificate with ratings for airplane single and multiengine. His last Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) third-class medical certificate was issued on January 19, 2017. At that time, the pilot reported 8,615 total hours of flight experience. According the pilot's daughter, her father flew often and had no known medical issues (cardiac, respiratory or physical) that would interfere with his flying. The Medical University of South Carolina performed an autopsy on the pilot. The cause of death was determined to be "full body blunt trauma." Toxicology testing performed at the FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory was negative for all items tested. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N75SX](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N75SX-2020-04-28), registration cancelled 2020-04-28, S/N 0075, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Edward R. Sugg Sonex - Registry model: [Sugg Edward R SONEX](https://openairdocs.org/model/sugg-edward-r-sonex) (registry code 056232P) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 0075 - Year built: 2007 - Airframe hours: 761.8 - Engines: Jabiru 2200 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, November 18, 2017, 21 hours before - Departed: FLO, Florence, SC - Destination: FLO, Florence, SC - Equipment: Data recorder, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 85; injuries: fatal; private, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; toxicology performed; flight hours: 8,615 total, 115 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: FLO, 19 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 20180912016269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180912016269A), Sep 12, 2018: Sugg Edward R SONEX, Marion, SC, Destroyed, 1 fatal. N75SX departed the florence regional airport (flo) on a local flight to Marion county airport (mao). Witness stated he saw the aircraft make a right hand turn… ## Docket (10 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 16, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98286. 10.9 MB in all. - NTSB Record of Conversation - Witness (item 1, .PDF, 78 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481158&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Witness-Master.PDF - Maintenance Records (item 2, .PDF, 213 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481159&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20Records-Master.PDF - Aircraft Logbook (item 3, .PDF, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481160&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Aircraft%20Logbook-Master.PDF - Photos (item 4, .PDF, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481161&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-Master.PDF - NTSB Record of Conversation - Wreckage Exam (item 5, .PDF, 73 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481162&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20%20Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Wreckage%20Exam-Master.PDF - Toxicological Report (item 6, .PDF, 211 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481163&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Toxicological%20Report-Master.PDF - NTSB Recorder Lab Email Report (item 7, .PDF, 81 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481164&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Recorder%20Lab%20Email%20Report-Master.PDF - NTSB Summary of Email - Pilot's Daughter (item 8, .PDF, 99 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481165&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Summary%20of%20Email%20-%20Pilot%27s%20Daughter-Master.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 and Evidence Control Form (item 9, .PDF, 6.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481166&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15%20and%20Evidence%20Control%20Form-Master.PDF - Electronic Devices - Specialist's Factual Report (item 10, .PDF, 164 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481167&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Electronic%20Devices%20-%20Specialist%27s%20Factual%20Report-Master.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.