# NTSB IAD02TA081: Crawford Widebody Long EZ, N3R, Martha's Vineyard, MA, August 3, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report - Date: August 3, 2002, 12:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Martha's Vineyard, MA - Coordinates: 42.230911, -71.530319 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2309&lon=-71.5303&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report May 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 55371 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD02TA081 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55371/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55371 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD02TA081 ## Probable cause Pilot incapacitation from a massive subarachnoid hemorrhage (stroke.) ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command - incapacitation(stroke), pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - water ## Analysis The airplane impacted ocean waters during a research flight. An autopsy revealed that the pilot suffered a massive subarachnoid hemorrhage. Injuries suffered when the airplane impacted the water "occurred after death." ## Factual narrative On August 3, 2002, about 1230 eastern daylight time, a homebuilt Widebody Long EZ, N3R, was substantially damaged during collision with the Atlantic Ocean while maneuvering near Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. The certificated commercial pilot/owner suffered a medical emergency, and died prior to the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the public use flight that originated at the Barnstable Municipal Airport (HYA), Hyannis, Massachusetts. A visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan was filed for the local research flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to a scientist from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the pilot's colleague, the purpose of the flight was to gather data for a NOAA research project. The airplane was built, outfitted, and instrumented by the pilot to measure the exchange of heat, moisture, and momentum between the ocean and the atmosphere. The data was gathered and stored in a "lunchbox" personal computer mounted behind the pilot's station. The pilot was to duplicate a flight he performed the previous day. On August 2, 2002, the pilot departed Barnstable Airport, and flew to a point in the open ocean where several research buoys were deployed. He then flew repeated low-level passes about 30 feet above the ocean surface over the buoys. Some legs were north-south "saw-tooth" flight patterns over the same buoys. The saw-tooth patterns required several slow ascents and descents between 30 feet and 750 feet above the surface. The pilot then flew four east-west legs, and returned to Barnstable Airport. During the flight over the buoys, the pilot called his colleague over the radio every 10 to 15 minutes to "check in," and relay a status report. The flight was 2.9 hours in duration. According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air traffic information, the airplane departed Barnstable Airport, at 1159, on the morning of the accident. The pilot activated his VFR flight plan, effective at 1200, and was due back at Barnstable at 1530. There were no further communications between FAA facilities and the pilot. According to his colleague, the only radio call from the pilot was immediately after takeoff when he said, "I'm heading out to the site." About 1500, the pilot of a passing airplane spotted the wreckage of the accident airplane afloat in the ocean. The wreckage was located at 41 degrees, 19 minutes, 28 seconds north latitude, 70 degrees, 34 minutes, 26 seconds west longitude. The wreckage was recovered, and subsequently examined by an inspector of the Aeronautics Commission for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The examination revealed no mechanical anomalies. According to the inspector, flight control continuity was established from the cockpit to the left aileron and rudder. Continuity could not be established to the right aileron and rudder, due to breaks in each cable. All cable breaks were "broomstrawed." The rudder pedals were separated from the airplane, and were not recovered. The three wooden propeller blades were broken to within 8 inches of the hub. All thee blades were splintered and "broomstrawed." The Associate Chief Medical Examiner for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Pocasset, Massachusetts, performed an autopsy on the pilot. According to the medical examiner's report, the pilot suffered a "massive subarachnoid hemorrhage," with the source unidentified. Additional injuries, which were incurred when the airplane impacted the water, "occurred after death." The weather reported at an airport, 6 miles northwest of the crash site included clear skies with 10 miles of visibility. The wind was from 250 degrees at 8 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3R-2003-10-16), registration cancelled 2003-10-16, S/N 2 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Crawford Widebody Long EZ - Registry model: [Crawford Timothy L WIDEBODY LONG EZ](https://openairdocs.org/model/crawford-timothy-l-widebody-long-ez) (registry code 056909U) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 2 - Airframe hours: 3470 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Public aircraft, Public use - Registered owner: Timothy L. Crawford - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, July 10, 2001 - Departed: HYA, Hyannis, MA - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: fatal; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; toxicology performed; flight hours: 3,000 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: MVY ## 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 20020803017209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020803017209A), Aug 3, 2002: Amtr LONGEZ, Marthasvineyard, MA, No damage, 1 fatal. (-23) Timothy crawford departed hyannis airport (hya) at 1154 EDT August 3, 2002. He activated his VFR flight plan at 1204 EDT. The wreckage of his aircraft… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 14, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55371. 1.3 MB in all. - Summary of Interview (item 1, .PDF, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40180388&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Summary%20of%20Interview-Master.PDF - Toxicological Testing (item 2, .PDF, 190 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467239&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Toxicological%20Testing-Master.PDF - Wreckage Release (item 3, .PDF, 74 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467240&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Wreckage%20Release-Master.PDF - Third Party Photo of Dockside Wreckage (item 4, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40180416&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Third%20Party%20Photo%20of%20Dockside%20Wreckage-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.