# NTSB WPR12LA241: Westcott Prowler Jaguar, N125CW, Salinas, CA, June 1, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 1, 2012, 10:59 local (17:59 UTC) - Place: Salinas, CA - Coordinates: 36.662776, -121.61 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6628&lon=-121.6100&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report February 3, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 83828 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR12LA241 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83828/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83828 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA241 ## Probable cause The pilot's inability to maintain airplane control during takeoff due to an incapacitating cardiac event. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Impairment/incapacitation: cardiovascular](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012050): Personnel issues › Physical · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Westcott Charles R PROWLER JAGUAR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012050/cases.md?model=05619W4), [All aircraft, 69 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012050/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Westcott Charles R PROWLER JAGUAR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=05619W4), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Westcott Charles R PROWLER JAGUAR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05619W4), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Westcott Charles R PROWLER JAGUAR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05619W4), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis Witnesses reported that the airplane accelerated down the runway, and immediately after takeoff the nose pitched up, and the airplane stalled, rolled, pitched down, and impacted the ground nose first. A postaccident examination of the flight control surfaces revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The forensic pathologist who performed the postmortem examination of the pilot reported that the pilot experienced a sudden cardiac event as a result of coronary artery atherosclerosis while piloting the airplane. The cardiac event is commonly associated with sudden unexpected death and would have resulted in incapacitation. ## Factual narrative The experimental category tandem configured, low wing, airplane with retractable landing gear, serial number 0012, was manufactured in 2007. It was powered by a Rodeck V8 350-hp engine. Airplane maintenance records were not located and were not examined by investigators. WRECKAGE & IMPACT INFORMATION The wreckage was located on the south side of runway 26 near taxi way D. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector examined the wreckage and reported that all flight control surfaces were present and that the airplane had been consumed by a post-crash fire. Airport surveillance cameras captured the airplane's last few seconds prior to the accident. Camera 7 was located on the south side of the runway near the approach end of runway 26. The imagery depicted the airplane passing through the upper right corner of the camera's field of view at an approximately 30° angle climb at 1058:45, and exiting the frame at 1058:47. The airplane reenters the frame at 1058:49 in an extreme nose down attitude, impacts terrain at 1058:54, and was immediately followed by a fire ball explosion. Camera 9, located on a building on the north side of runway 26, views the intersection of taxi way D and runway 26/08. The camera imagery depicts the airplane entering the field of view at 1058:52 in an extreme nose low attitude with the left wing pointing towards the ground. The airplane rolls approximately 90° to its left and impacts the terrain inverted nose first 2 seconds later. A fireball explosion immediately follows. MEDICAL & PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION An autopsy was performed on the pilot on June 4, 2012, by the Monterey County Forensic Pathologist, at the Monterey County Coroner Facility, Salinas, California. The pathologist's summary stated that the pilot most likely died suddenly as a result of coronary artery atherosclerosis (heart attack due to hardening and narrowing of arteries that supply the heart muscle), commonly associated with sudden unexpected death. No rapidly fatal injuries sustained in the airplane crash were observed at autopsy. The FAA's Forensic Toxicology Research Team CAMI performed forensic toxicology on specimens from the pilot. The following results were reported; no carbon monoxide detected in blood, no cyanide detected in blood, no ethanol detected in vitreous, and no listed drugs identified in urine. On June 1, 2012, at 1059 Pacific daylight time, an experimental Westcott Prowler Jaguar, N125CW, impacted terrain immediately after takeoff at the Salinas Municipal Airport, Salinas, California. The airplane was registered to, and operated by, the owner/builder under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The airline transport pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was destroyed and involved in a post-accident fire. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan had not been filed. According to the Monterey County Sheriff, witnesses reported observing the airplane accelerate down runway 26. Immediatelyafter takeoff the nose pitched up, the airplane stalled, rolled, and pitched down, then impacted the ground nose first. A post-crash fire ensued. Witnesses stated that they could audibly hear the engine operating all the way up to ground impact. The pilot, age 73, held an airline transport pilot certificate with an airplane multiengine land rating and commercial privileges for airplane single engine land. He held a third-class medical certificate issued February 8, 2012, with the limitation that he wear lenses for distant vision, and have glasses for near vision. The pilot reported on his medical application that his flight experience included 20,000 flight hours and 75 hours in the previous 6 months. The pilot's logbook was not located and was not examined by investigators. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N125CW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N125CW-2012-09-21), registration cancelled 2012-09-21, S/N 0012, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: WESTCOTT PROWLER JAGUAR - Registry model: [Westcott Charles R PROWLER JAGUAR](https://openairdocs.org/model/westcott-charles-r-prowler-jaguar) (registry code 05619W4) (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: 0012 - Engines: AMA/EXPR Rodeck V8 350 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Westcott Charles R - Registered owner: Westcott Charles R - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: KSNS, Salinas, CA - Destination: KSNS, Salinas, CA - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: KSNS, Salinas Municipal Airport, runway 26, 6,000 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; injuries: fatal; airline transport, commercial, flight engineer; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 20,000 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: KSNS ## 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 20120601010969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120601010969A), Jun 1, 2012: Westcott Charles R PROWLER JAGUAR, Salinas, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Experimental aircraft departed runway 26 at sns, lost control after a steep takeoff climb, banked left, and crashed off the left side of runway 26. Aircraft… ## Docket (10 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 7, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83828. 12.0 MB in all. - Witness Statement (item 1, .PDF, 93 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40402536&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector's Examination (item 2, .PDF, 102 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40403657&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Examination-Redacted.PDF - Sheriff-Coroner Report (item 3, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40403888&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Sheriff-Coroner%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Toxicological Report (item 4, .PDF, 113 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40402538&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Toxicological%20Report-Master.PDF - Video File (item 5, .PDF, 11 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40402548&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Video%20File-Master.PDF - Photo 1 - Main wreckage, left side (item 6, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40402541&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Main%20wreckage,%20left%20side-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Main wreckage, right side (item 7, .PDF, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40402542&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Main%20wreckage,%20right%20side-Master.PDF - Photo 3 - Wreckage location next to the runway (item 8, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40402543&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20-%20Wreckage%20location%20next%20to%20the%20runway-Master.PDF - Photo 4 - View of the forward part of the wreckage (item 9, .PDF, 3.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40402545&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204%20-%20View%20of%20the%20forward%20part%20of%20the%20wreckage-Master.PDF - Photo 5 - Cockpit (item 10, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40402546&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%205%20-%20Cockpit-Master.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.