MIA00LA149

N69BM was discovered in a burnt out area, with two occupants in the wreckage. Subsequent investigation by the sheriff's office revealed that the pilot had been flying N69BM in formation with other aircraft, and had discontinued the return flight to practice aerobatics, and was reported missing by his wife after he did not return home. The medical examiner's office later verified the identities of the individuals who had been found in the wreckage, as those who had been reported missing by the pilot's wife. Postcrash examination of the burnt wreckage revealed that the airframe had incurred extensive damage consistent with hard ground impact, in an inverted position, and there were no indicators of any mechanical malfunctions to the aircraft or its systems. The propeller signatures found, were consistent with an engine producing power at impact.

History of flight

On May 9, 2000, about 1430 eastern daylight time, a Morphew Pitts Model 12, N69BM, registered to DJK RSA Cellular Inc., operated as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, crashed in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The experimental aircraft was destroyed, and the commercial-rated pilot and one passenger were fatally injured. The flight last departed from Deland, Florida, the same day, about 1330.

According to an official with the Volusia County Sheriff's office, the accident airplane was initially seen by a news helicopter crew, which had been providing news coverage of a brush fire, and had noted what appeared to be an airplane, in an area where the fire had already burned. According to the official, an examination revealed that the object was an airplane, and it was located where the fire had started. The examination further revealed that the aircraft was inverted, and had been destroyed by fire. Two occupants were found in the burnt wreckage.

According to a representative from the Volusia County Sheriff's office, while the on scene investigation was being conducted, they received a report from an individual stating that her husband had gone flying, and had not returned home. The investigation subsequently revealed that the missing pilot had flown N69BM in formation with three other aircraft from Spruce Creek to Deland, Florida, and according to one of the pilots in the other aircraft, while on the way back to Spruce Creek, had elected to break off from the formation to practice aerobatics.

On May 10, 2000, the Volusia and Seminole Counties Medical Examiner identified the individuals in the burnt wreckage as those who had been reported missing.

Personnel information

Records obtained during the investigation showed that the pilot held a commercial pilot certificate, with airplane single and multi engine land and instrument ratings, last issued on December 21, 1984. The pilot was also an FAA licensed airframe and powerplant mechanic. He held an FAA third class medical certificate, which was issued on June 14, 1999, with the limitation of "holder shall wear lenses that correct for distant vision and possess glasses that correct for near vision while exercising the privileges of this airman certificate." Information supplied by an individual handling the pilot's affairs showed that the pilot had accumulated over 6,174 flight hours, and had flown 11 flight hours in the previous 90 days. According to an investigator with the Volusia and Seminole Counties Medical Examiner's Office, the pilot was in the rear seat of the airplane.

The second person in the wreckage, a pilot-rated passenger, held a commercial pilot's certificate with an airplane single engine land and instrument ratings. He also held an FAA second-class medical certificate, with the limitation of "must wear corrective lenses," which was issued on March 16, 2000. According to a family member, the passenger's logbook reflected that he had about 2,500 hours total flight experience. According to an investigator with the Volusia and Seminole Counties Medical Examiner's Office, the passenger was in the front seat of the airplane.

Aircraft information

N69BM is a Pitts Model 12, amateur built, two-place aerobatic biplane, with conventional landing gear, which was manufactured in 1999. On March 25, 2000, the aircraft received a condition inspection, and was endorsed, "in a condition for safe flight and operation," by the pilot. At the time of the condition inspection, the airframe logbook showed that the aircraft had a total time on the airframe of 76.6 hours.

N69BM is powered by a Russian built Vendenyev Model M14P 9-cylinder 360-horsepower radial engine. An excerpt of pages from airplane's engine logbook was provided to the NTSB, and the information showed that the engine was manufactured in 1983, and had a total time since new of 897 hours. The first overhaul was conducted in October 1987, and the second in March 1991. On November 15, 1998, the engine was installed on the accident airplane, and "depreserved," according to the logbook entry. On March 25, 2000, the engine was inspected and found to be in a condition for safe operation by the pilot. At the time of the condition inspection, the recording tachometer reading was 76.6 hours, and the total time on the engine was 973.6 hours.

Wreckage and impact information

According to the Volusia County Sheriff's Office, N69BM was spotted in the area of Lefler Airport, in the southeast quadrant of the 5-acre diameter burnt out area. The aircraft had been destroyed by fire. Volusia County Sheriff's office photographs of the scene, as well as a visual inspection of the wreckage, indicated that the aircraft was in about 20- to 25-degree nose low inverted attitude, when it impacted the ground. After the on-scene investigation was completed, the aircraft was removed and secured at Command Aircraft Parts and Recovery, in Bunnell, Florida, for followup-examination.

Postaccident examination of the wreckage was done at Command Aircraft Parts and Recovery, in Bunnell, Florida on May 24, 2000, and the examination revealed that the airframe had incurred extensive damage consistent with hard ground impact while it was inverted. The engine cowling had been pressed, and formed into the forward side of the cylinders, and there had been extensive postcrash fire damage. During the postaccident investigation, control continuity was traced within the fuselage and tail structure. The elevator push rods, and elevator idler assembly, had bent and had fractured, and the fractured components were retained and sent to the NTSB Metallurgical Laboratory, in Washington, D.C., for further examination. The rudder control cables were intact, and the rudder surface contained witness marks indicative of a full right deflection. The fuselage structure consisting of structural tubes had been broken, and exhibited vertical compression throughout the structure, and all engine mount bolts, rated at over 11,000 pounds shear load, had broken. The seat frames are bent at the seat belt attach points, indicative of the occupants wearing the seat belt restraints at the time of impact. The canopy was in the closed and latched position.

The Pitts Model 12 wings are made from wood, and are equipped with steel fittings. The ailerons are made of aluminum. The wing struts are of 4130 Condition N steel, and the wings are externally braced, with a set of struts and streamline tie rods, or flying wires, to produce a rigid wing system. The wings and ailerons are covered with fabric. The wings of N69BM were nearly completely consumed by fire, with only the steel fittings and some of the wood remaining. The wing struts showing compression, consistent with high vertical loads, and the wings were in a position relative to the fuselage, showed little or no rotation, and contained no evidence of any preimpact structural failures. The empennage was intact with the exception of the fabric, which had burned, and there was some damage to the vertical fin and rudder. The tail structure is made of 4130 Condition N steel tubing and sheet metal, and is externally braced with wire similar to that of the wings. The brace wires were in position and intact.

N69BM is equipped with a conventional landing gear/taildragger design. The main gear is a spring aluminum type, attached with bolts that are mounted near the firewall. The landing gear was in place on the fuselage, except that one had been melted in the fire. The wheels, tires and wheel fairings had all been consumed by fire. The tail wheel was intact and undamaged except for the tire that had burned away. There was no evidence that the gear had made any contact with the terrain at the time of impact.

The engine was extensively damaged from the impact, and the fire. The engine cowling had been pressed, and had form