- Date
- August 11, 2001, 14:45 local (18:45 UTC)
- Place
- Byron, NY
- Injuries
- 2 fatal
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N912WDDominiak Kitfox
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 2, 2002
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20010811022809A
- Case key
- 52999
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control. A factor in the accident was the physiological impairment of the pilot due to the consumption of alcohol.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The airplane was circling around a residential area 15 to 20 feet above trees and power lines. While maneuvering, the airplane reached bank angles of approximately 90 degrees, before impacting the ground in a nose low attitude. The pilot had approximately 450 hours of total flight experience, with 30 hours of that being in the accident airplane make and model. In addition, the pilot had flown 22 hours in the accident airplane within 30 days of the accident. Toxicological testing on samples taken from the pilot showed 126 (mg/dL, mg/hg) of Ethanol, 1 (mg/dL, mg/hg) of Acetaldehyde, and 0.452 (ug/ml, ug/g) of Benzoylecgonine in the pilot's blood. In addition, 0.347 (ug/ml, ug/g) of Cocaine, 6.045 (ug/ml, ug/g) Benzoylecgonine, and 0.233 (ug/ml, ug/g) of Cocaethylene was detected in the pilot's urine. Examination of the wreckage revealed no preimpact failures or malfunctions.
Factual narrative
On August 11, 2001, about 1445 eastern daylight time, a homebuilt Kitfox, N912WD, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain while maneuvering over a residential area in Byron, New York. The certificated private pilot and passenger were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight that departed from a private airstrip. No flight plan was filed, and the flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
According to several witnesses, the airplane was circling around a residential area 15 to 20 feet above trees and power lines. While maneuvering, the airplane reached bank angles of approximately 90 degrees, before impacting the ground in a nose low attitude.
According to the owner of the airplane, the pilot had approximately 450 hours of total flight experience, with 30 hours of that being in the accident airplane make and model. In addition, the pilot had flown 22 hours in the accident airplane within 30 days of the accident.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Toxicology and Accident Research Laboratory in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma performed a toxicological test, on bile, blood, brain, gastric, heart, kidney, liver, lung, muscle, spinal fluid, spleen, urine, and vitreous samples taken from the pilot. According to the test results, 126 (mg/dL, mg/hg) of Ethanol, 1 (mg/dL, mg/hg) of Acetaldehyde, and 0.452 (ug/ml, ug/g) of Benzoylecgonine was detected in the pilot's blood. In addition, 0.347 (ug/ml, ug/g) of Cocaine, 6.045 (ug/ml, ug/g) Benzoylecgonine, and 0.233 (ug/ml, ug/g) of Cocaethylene was detected in the pilot's urine.
The Medical Examiner's Office for Monroe County conducted a toxicological test on the pilot and passenger. According to the results, the pilot had a blood alcohol content of 0.12 percent (w/v), and the passenger had a blood alcohol content of 0.11 percent (w/v).
According to a FAA inspector, examination of the airframe and engine revealed no preimpact failures or malfunctions.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N912WD
- Reported as
- Dominiak Kitfox
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 1CV018
- Airframe hours
- 306.9
- Engine
- Rotax, 80 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Hollis Upson
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 17, 2001 · 81.4 hours before
- Departed
- NONE · Stafford, NY
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 37
- Injuries
- Fatal
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Invalid Medical for flight
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 450 total · 30 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 20° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.05 inHg
- Observed at
- ROC, 20 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.