# NTSB WPR18FA228: Pietenpol Aircamper, N88HK, Camp Verde, AZ, August 18, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report - Date: August 18, 2018, 14:08 local (21:08 UTC) - Place: Camp Verde, AZ - Coordinates: 34.601112, -111.82833 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6011&lon=-111.8283&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Unknown: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 98100 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR18FA228 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98100/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98100 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18FA228 ## Probable cause Loss of control for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Terrain: mountainous/hilly terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Olsson Harry K PIETENPOL AIRCAMPER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010/cases.md?model=7040273), [All aircraft, 329 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Olsson Harry K PIETENPOL AIRCAMPER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=7040273), [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. - [Unknown: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [Olsson Harry K PIETENPOL AIRCAMPER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=7040273), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md) - [Unknown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Olsson Harry K PIETENPOL AIRCAMPER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7040273), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot and passenger departed on a local area flight. When the flight did not return a search was initiated and the wreckage was located later in the evening in hilly, uneven desert terrain. The wreckage debris field was contained within about a 10-foot radius of the main wreckage. All flight control surfaces remained attached and flight control continuity was established. The wing assembly was deformed in the middle section with the left portion of the wing pushed up and over the main spar; the right wing was pushed down. It is likely that the airplane was in an uncontrolled attitude at the time of impact with terrain. A visual examination of the engine revealed no holes in the engine case. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed carbon buildup in the cylinder barrels and piston faces and worn spark plugs. The wooden propeller remained attached to the crankshaft and engine. There were no mechanical anomalies revealed that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On August 18, 2018, about 1408 mountain standard time, an experimental Olsson Pietenpol Aircamper, N88HK, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Camp Verde, Arizona. The commercial pilot and pilot-rated passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight and no flight plan had been filed. The flight originated from Montezuma Airport (19AZ), Camp Verde, Arizona, about 1400, with a stop at Cottonwood Airport, Cottonwood, Arizona, with a return to 19AZ. The airplane impacted in a ravine surrounded by desert terrain about 2.5 miles east of 19AZ. According to the pilot's wife, the purpose of the flight was to increase the pilot's confidence in a conventional landing gear airplane (tailwheel). The wife added that the passenger was a non-current flight instructor with experience in tailwheel airplanes. The Yavapai County Medical Examiner, Prescott Valley, Arizona performed an autopsy of the pilot. The pilot’s cause of death was blunt force trauma. The FAA’s Forensic Sciences Laboratory performed toxicology on the pilot’s tissue samples, which revealed Fexofenadine, a non-sedating antihistamine was detected in blood and urine. Ranitidine used to prevent and treat symptoms of heartburn was found in urine. Postaccident engine examination revealed carbon buildup on the cylinder barrels and piston faces, as well as worn spark plugs. There were no other mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The airplanes’ two Bendix SF4R-8 magnetos were examined, and both passed the functionality bench test. The airplane was found in hilly, uneven desert terrain surround by shrub brush and trees. During an on-scene investigation, the first identified point of impact was a 12-inch by 4-inch depression adjacent to the tailwheel. The debris field was contained within about a 10-foot radius of the main wreckage. The main wreckage was comprised of all major airframe components and was oriented on a magnetic heading of 78°. The wing assembly was deformed in the middle section with the left portion of the wing pushed up and over the main spar, the right wing was pushed down. The airplane remained intact; both wood propeller blade roots remained attached to the propeller hub, which remained attached to the crankshaft and engine. The engine remained attached to the airframe. Flight control continuity was established. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N88HK](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N88HK-2021-10-30), registration cancelled 2021-10-30, S/N 1084, built 1988 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Pietenpol AIRCAMPER - Registry model: [Olsson Harry K PIETENPOL AIRCAMPER](https://openairdocs.org/model/olsson-harry-k-pietenpol-aircamper) (registry code 7040273) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1084 - Year built: 1988 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: 19AZ, Camp Verde, AZ - Destination: 19AZ, Camp Verde, AZ - Airport: 19AZ, Montezuma - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: fatal; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: rear; restraint: 3-point; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,421 total, 0 in this make and model - Pilot-rated passenger; age 78; injuries: fatal; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; toxicology performed ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 10 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: PRC, 27 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 20180818015939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180818015939A), Aug 18, 2018: Olsson Harry K PIETENPOL AIRCAMPER, Camp Verde, AZ, Destroyed, 2 fatal. On the afternoon of August 18, 2018, N88HK, a pietenpol air camper experimental amateur built aircraft departed montezuma airpark (19AZ) Camp Verde, AZ., for a… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 31, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98100. 6.9 MB in all. - NTSB examination report (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 5.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11852033&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Examination%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Summary of findings (magneto test) (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 148 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12108557&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Summary%20of%20Findings%20Magneto%20Test_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 344 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11572014&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR18FA228%20N88HK%20wreckage%20release_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Toxicological report - pilot (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 230 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11851920&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=2018_158_001a_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Toxicological report (pilot-rated passenger) (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 827 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11571425&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=tox%202018_158_002_Redacted-Rel.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.