# NTSB MIA00LA234: Eachon Time Warp Spitfire 9, N355DE, Lakeland, FL, August 8, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 8, 2000, 08:50 local (12:50 UTC) - Place: Lakeland, FL - Coordinates: 28.039079, -81.89904 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.0391&lon=-81.8990&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report May 8, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49922 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA00LA234 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49922/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA00LA234 ## Probable cause a loss of control which resulted in an inadvertent stall at too low an altitude to allow recovery. Factors in this accident were, the pilot/owner did not verify that the airplane was balanced before the flight, and he did not perform any weight or balance checks. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - flt control syst,elevator control - oversize - maintenance,balancing - not verified, owner/builder (contributing factor) - aircraft weight and balance - not performed, owner/pilot mechanic (contributing factor) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, climb - terrain condition - runway ## Analysis This was the first flight of this airplane after being built. The airplane was seen departing from runway 9, climb at a steep nose high attitude to an altitude of about 150 to 200 feet above the ground; fall flat to the ground, impacting right side up, and flat. Videotape, made by a relative of the pilot, revealed that the pilot was heard saying he was having difficulty in getting the tail up. He told the people present, '...it's a bugger back there,' referring to the tail coming up. In addition, he said, '...I should have more elevator authority.' He said that he had the speed up to 70 knots, the stick full forward, the tail would not come up, and '...that the aircraft may need a larger horizontal stabilizer and elevator to attain sufficient elevator authority.' No work to correct this problem was accomplished prior to the attempted flight. The videotape indicated that the airplane might have been overweight or tail heavy, or perhaps both. Inspection of the wreckage revealed no apparent airframe failure. The control surfaces were heavily coated with bondo to smooth them out. A piece of bondo was chipped from the aileron that measured 3/16 of an inch thick. The listed empty weight was 1,300 pounds, and the gross weight was 2,000 pounds. The actual weight shown for certification was empty weight 1,779 pounds, and gross weight 2,400 pounds. Continuity was established through the elevator cables, but the tail section and cables were cut to extract the pilot from the wreckage. Control continuity was established to all the flight controls. ## Factual narrative On August 8, 2000, about 0850 eastern daylight time, a homebuilt Eachon Time Warp Spitfire 9, N355DE, registered to a private individual, impacted with the ground during takeoff from Lakeland Linder Regional Airport, Lakeland, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The airplane was destroyed. The commercial-rated pilot was fatally injured. The flight was originating at the time. This was the first flight of this airplane after being built, and was to be a test flight. Witnesses saw the airplane depart from runway 9, climb at a steep nose high attitude to an altitude of about 150 to 200 feet above the ground, fall flat to the ground, impacting right side up, and flat. The NTSB investigator-in-charge reviewed videotape that was made by a relative of the pilot, and is being held as evidence by the Lakeland Police Department. The tape shows N355DE during a high-speed taxi test and then returning to the hangar area. Several people greeted the pilot when he returned to the hangar. In a conversation with the people at the hangar, the pilot said he was having difficulty in getting the tail up. He told the people present, "...it's a bugger back there," referring to the tail coming up. In addition he said, "...I should have more elevator authority." According to the FAA inspector's statement, "...a review of all witness statements, and a...video tape...indicate that the subject aircraft may have been overweight or tail heavy, or perhaps both. Inspection of the wreckage revealed no apparent airframe failure. The control surfaces were heavily coated with bondo to smooth them out. A piece of bondo was chipped from the aileron that measured 3/16 of an inch thick. The flight controls were weighed...the right aileron weighed 20 pounds, the right elevator weighed 15 pounds, and the rudder weighed 27 pounds...the advertisement on the internet site listed the empty weight at 1,300 pounds...gross weight at 2,000 pounds. The actual weight shown for certification was empty weight 1,779 pounds...gross weight 2,400 pounds. It has not been determined how the [pilot/builder] established these numbers...the videotape...includes a sequence where the [pilot/builder] is interviewed after initial taxi tests...the [pilot/builder] states that he had the speed up to 70 knots and the stick full forward and the tail would not come up. When questioned about this, the [pilot/builder] stated that the aircraft may need a larger horizontal stabilizer and elevator to attain sufficient elevator authority. No work to correct this problem was accomplished prior to the attempted flight." Continuity was established through the elevator cables, but the tail section and cables were cut to extract the pilot from the wreckage. Control continuity was established to all the flight controls. MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION Dr. Alexander Melamud performed an autopsy on the pilot, on August 8, 2000, at the Polk County Medical Examiner's Office, Lakeland, Florida. According to the autopsy report, "...Cause of death: Multiple injuries. " Toxicological tests were conducted at the Federal Aviation Administration, Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and revealed, "No ethanol or drugs detected." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N355DE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N355DE-2018-01-18), registration cancelled 2018-01-18, S/N 201, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: EACHON TIME WARP SPITFIRE 9 (TIME WARP) - Registry model: [Time Warp TIME WARP SPITFIRE 9](https://openairdocs.org/model/time-warp-time-warp-spitfire-9) (registry code 0560767) (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: 201 - Airframe hours: 1 - Engines: Chevrolet V8 400 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: David R. Eachon - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: LAL - Airport: LAL, Lakeland Linder Regional, runway 9, 8,500 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,500 total, 1 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 4 knots - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 77 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: LAL ## 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 20000808008239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000808008239A), Aug 8, 2000: Amtr SPITFIRE9, Lakeland, FL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. (-23) On August 7, 2000 the pilot made two high speed taxi runs and was unable to get the tail of aircraft off the ground. Pilot stated the at the aircraft got… 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.