# NTSB MIA84FA017: Hight Smaragd CP-301-S, N42RH, St Augustine, FL, October 24, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 24, 1983, 12:52 local (16:52 UTC)
- Place: St Augustine, FL
- Coordinates: 29.890039, -81.309127 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.8900&lon=-81.3091&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 30949
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA84FA017
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/30949/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA84FA017

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - low pass - performed, pilot in command
  - climb - initiated, pilot in command
  - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE OWNER/BUILDER/PLT OF THE HOME BUILT ACFT & A PASSENGER (A FOREIGN VISITOR) WERE ON A LOCAL FLT ALONG A BEACH AREA. THE PURPOSE OF THE FLT WAS FOR THE VISITOR TO TAKE SOME VIDEO TAPE FOOTAGE WITH THE VIDEO CAMERA THAT HE TOOK ALONG. WITNESSES, INCLUDING A FRIEND OF THE VISITOR, SAW THE ACFT FLYING SLOW AT AN ALT OF APRX 100 FT AGL & 300 YARDS FROM THE BEACH. THEY REPORTED THAT THE ACFT WAS FLYING PARALLEL TO THE SHORE LINE WHEN IT PULLED UP IN WHAT APPEARED TO BE THE INITIATION OF A CLIMB. AT ABOUT THAT TIME, THE ACFT SUDDENLY FELL OFF ON THE RIGHT WING & ROLLED TO AN INVERTED, NOSE LOW ATTITUDE. REPORTEDLY, THE ACFT HAD ROLLED BACK TO A WINGS LEVEL ATTITUDE, AND WAS RECOVERING FROM A DIVE, WHEN IT IMPACTED IN THE WATER. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE WAS OPERATING AT A HIGH RPM (SCREAMING) WHEN THE ACFT CRASHED IN ABOUT A 45 DEG NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED NO PREIMPACT FAILURES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N42RH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N42RH-1985-01-31), registration cancelled 1985-01-31, S/N 007 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HIGHT SMARAGD CP-301-S
- Registry model: [Hight Roger G SMARAGD](https://openairdocs.org/model/hight-roger-g-smaragd) (registry code 05613K6) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 007
- Airframe hours: 233
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Roger Hight
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, June 25, 1983, 25 hours before
- Departed: SGI, ST AUGUSTINE, FL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 65; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; toxicology performed; flight hours: 708 total, 148 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: CRG, 25 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 19831024055349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831024055349A), Oct 24, 1983: Amtrlt EMERAUDCP30, St Augustine, FL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Aircraft stalled and crashed during low and slow demonstration flight.

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.