# NTSB NYC93LA139: Titan Tornado, East Moriches, NY, June 28, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 28, 1993, 18:45 local (22:45 UTC)
- Place: East Moriches, NY
- Coordinates: 40.809471, -72.759376 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8095&lon=-72.7594&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report August 30, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 38619
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC93LA139
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38619/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC93LA139

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRPSEED, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL AND COLLISION WITH THE TERRAIN.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE UNLICENSED PILOT WAS FLYING HIS UNREGISTERED-HOMEBUILT AIRPLANE WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED.  THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED FLYING AT ABOUT 50 FEET ABOVE A HIGHWAY.  A WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE 'SEEMED TO HOVER FOR JUST A SECOND AND THEN FELL TO THE GROUND NOSE FIRST.'  THE INVESTIGATION DID NOT DISCLOSE EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION.

## Factual narrative

On Monday, June 28, 1993, at about 1845 eastern daylight time, a homebuilt Titan Tornado, owned and operated by Edwin B. Wadsworth, of Glen Cove, New York, impacted on a highway, 1 mile north of the Lufker Airport, East Moriches, New York.  The airplane was substantially damaged.  The pilot was fatally injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.  A flight plan had not been filed for the flight operating under 14 CFR 91.

According to witness reports and a video tape, the unlicensed pilot had been performing low level passes and steep climbs in the vicinity of the airport.  A witness observed the airplane flying along a highway at about 50 feet where, "The plane seemed to hover for just a second and then fell to the ground nose first."

Another witness indicated that Edwin Wadsworth had considered this airplane an Ultralight.  Post accident investigation revealed that the airplane weighed 420 pounds.  Further, the manufacture of the airplane kit indicates that this model will normally cruise at approximately 90 to 100 miles per hour.  The weight and speed of this airplane both exceed 14 CFR 103 limitations for Ultralight Vehicles.

## Aircraft

- Registration: UNREG (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Titan Aircraft TORNADO
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: T915030 HK 8
- Engines: ROTAX 503 53 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: Unknown
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Edwin B. Wadsworth
- Registered owner: Edwin B. Wadsworth
- Departed: 4NY7
- Destination: 4NY7

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; seat: center; flight hours: 200 total, 60 in this make and model, 40 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

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.

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