# NTSB MIA02LA086: Lett R/Campbell K Aircam, N912S, Troy, AL, April 19, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 19, 2002, 18:04 local (23:04 UTC) - Place: Troy, AL - Coordinates: 31.860277, -86.011947 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.8603&lon=-86.0119&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report September 20, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 54560 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA02LA086 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54560/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54560 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA02LA086 ## Probable cause the pilot-in-commands decision to fly at a low altitude and his improper visual lookout resulting in an in-flight collision static with wires. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, maneuvering - altitude/clearance - low, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - object - wire,static - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - water ## Analysis The airplane had been flying around the area low level for about 30 minutes, when it struck power lines, about 70 feet above a lake, then fell into the water. The crash site was located about 2 to 3 miles southeast of the airport. The airplane was only partly submerged with the nose on the bottom of the lake. A witness jumped into the lake and rescued the pilot from the submerged wreckage. There were no reports of any mechanical problems before the airplane struck the power lines. There were no reported obstructions due to weather, and the reported visibility about the time of the accident was 10 statute miles. ## Factual narrative On April 19, 2002, about 1804 central daylight time, a Lett R/Campbell K. AIRCAM homebuilt airplane, N912S, registered to Pike Aviation Inc., and operated by an individual, struck power lines, and impacted in a lake while maneuvering near Troy, Alabama. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. No flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The airplane was destroyed. The airline transport-rated pilot reported serious injuries. The flight had departed from the Troy Airport, about 1715. The pilot stated in a letter that, "I have no recollection of the accident nor any other incidents which occurred on 4/19/02." According to witnesses, the airplane had been flying around the area low level for about 45 minutes, when it struck power lines, about 70 feet above a lake, and then fell into the water. The crash site was located about 2 to 3 miles southeast of the Troy Airport. According to witnesses at the scene the airplane was found lying inverted at the east end of the lake, in about 6 to 8 feet of water. The airplane was only partly submerged with the nose on the bottom of the lake. A witness jumped into the lake and rescued the pilot from the submerged wreckage. There were no reports of any mechanical problems before the airplane struck the power lines. There were no reported obstructions due to weather, and the reported visibility about the time of the accident was 10 statute miles. Toxicological tests were conducted on specimens obtained from the pilot during admission to the hospital by the Federal Aviation Administration, Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The tests were negative for Ethanol in Serum, and positive for Lidocaine in Serum. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N912S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N912S-2002-10-03), registration cancelled 2002-10-03, S/N AC-008, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Lett R/Campbell K AIRCAM - Registry model: [Lett R/Campbell K AIRCAM](https://openairdocs.org/model/lett-r-campbell-k-aircam) (registry code 0560791) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 013 - Airframe hours: 207 - Engines: Rotax 9125 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Jackie E. Roush - Registered owner: Pike Aviation Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, December 10, 2001, 11 hours before - Departed: TOI, Troy, AL - Airport: TOI, Troy Municipal, runway 32, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: serious; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review November 30, 2001; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 5,500 total, 2 in this make and model, 3,850 as pilot in command, 120 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 11,000 ft broken - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: TOI, 3 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 20020419006199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020419006199A), Apr 19, 2002: Amtr AIRCAM, Troy, AL, Destroyed. (-23) On April 19, 2002, at approximately 1804 cdst, a experimental homebuilt, air cam, N912S, crashed after flying about 1 mile from the Troy airport located… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 5, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54560. 443 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 342 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40432508&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statements (item 2, .PDF, 101 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40432509&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-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.