# NTSB WPR18FA261: Gruber Beelzabub, N382T, Rochester, WA, September 14, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report - Date: September 14, 2018, 11:20 local (18:20 UTC) - Place: Rochester, WA - Coordinates: 46.713333, -122.946388 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.7133&lon=-122.9464&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) - 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): 98298 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR18FA261 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98298/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98298 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18FA261 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a tree while maneuvering at a low altitude. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Gruber Robert F BEELZABUB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=056075S), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Gruber Robert F BEELZABUB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=056075S), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Gruber Robert F BEELZABUB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=056075S), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Gruber Robert F BEELZABUB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=056075S), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) ## Analysis **This report was modified on September 15, 2022. Please see the public docket for this accident to view the original report.** A witness reported that the airplane overflew the area, about 500 ft above ground level, before it descended and leveled out. The airplane was in a wings-level attitude when the left wing struck a lone tree that was about 60–70 ft tall. The surrounding trees in the area were about 30–50 ft tall. The airplane continued for about 500 feet before it impacted a forested area and came to rest nose-down against a tree. The witness further reported that the engine was running at the time of the accident. Examination of the airframe and engine revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Toxicology testing detected a low concentration of the opiate morphine in the pilot-rated passenger’s urine specimen but not in the blood specimen, which suggests use was not recent and any sedating effects would not be present. Therefore, the effects of the pilot-rated passenger’s use of morphine were not a factor in the accident. It is likely that the pilot did not see the tree that was taller than the surrounding trees while maneuvering at low altitude. ## Factual narrative On September 14, 2018, about 1120 Pacific daylight time, an experimental Gruber Beelzabub airplane, N382T, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Rochester, Washington. The pilot/owner and pilot-rated passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The airplane departed Flying B Airport (8WA0), Rainier, Washington, at an undetermined time, and no flight plan had been filed. A witness reported observing the airplane about 500 ft above ground level just east of their job site. The airplane circled around a single tree, leveled off, and began a descent. The airplane was in a wings-level attitude when the left wing struck a 60–70 ft tall tree. The witness reported that the engine was running. The Thurston County Coroner performed autopsies of both pilots and determined their cause of death to be blunt force trauma of the head. Toxicology testing performed by the Federal Aviation Administration Forensic Sciences laboratory of the pilot/owner revealed no carbon monoxide, volatiles, or tested-for drugs. The toxicology testing did not perform testing for cyanide. Toxicology testing performed for the pilot-rated passenger detected no volatiles; and carbon monoxide and cyanide testing was not performed. The toxicology detected 0.045 (ug/mL, ug/g) morphine in urine but not in the blood cavity. Morphine is an opiate narcotic indicated for the management of severe and chronic pain; morphine may also be present as a metabolite of the opiate codeine. Use of morphine carries a high risk of addiction, abuse, and misuse. It is an impairing medication and carries the warning that patients should not drive or operate dangerous machinery until they know how they will react to the medication. The half-life of morphine is between 1.3 and 6.7 hours and it has a therapeutic range of 10 to 100 ng/mL. Morphine is metabolized mainly in the liver; normorphine is a major inactive metabolite. About 10% of a morphine dose is excreted unchanged in the urine. The investigation was unable to determine which occupant was flying the airplane at the time of the accident. The accident area was located on a hilltop whose trees were being cleared. The trees in the area where the airplane came to rest, were between 30-50 ft tall and were downslope from the single tree that the airplane impacted. The tree impacted was about 60-70 ft tall and about 500 feet from the main wreckage. The airplane came to rest in a nose-down attitude with the empennage against a tree. The left wing and left horizontal stabilizer separated from the airframe; a portion of the left wing came to rest in a tree about 500 ft from the main wreckage. A landing gear wheel separated and was located on the road adjacent to the forested area. The fuel tank had been breached and the smell of fuel was present along with damaged foliage. The tailwheel remained attached in its normal position. The fabric cover was tornaway from the undercarriage and exposed the flight control tubes. The control tubes and cables remained connected via their associated hardware. Flight control continuity was established via flight control cables. The landing gear bungees remained in place and not damaged. The engine separated from the airframe and came to rest adjacent to the nose of the airplane. There were no obvious holes in the crankcase. The propeller assembly remained attached to the engine. The two-bladed Curtiss propeller remained attached to the crankshaft. One propeller blade was bent midspan; the tip was missing. The other blade was relatively straight with bending at the outboard tip portion of the blade. Visual inspection of the engine revealed no obvious holes in the crankcase. The fuel strainer was removed and was free of debris. Mechanical and valve train continuity were established by manual rotation of the engine. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N382T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N382T-2019-09-06), registration cancelled 2019-09-06, S/N 001, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GRUBER Beelzabub - Registry model: [Gruber Robert F BEELZABUB](https://openairdocs.org/model/gruber-robert-f-beelzabub) (registry code 056075S) (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: 001 - Year built: 2007 - Airframe hours: 2471 - Engines: Jacobs Aircraft Engine Company R755-9 245 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1; seat: rear; toxicology performed - Pilot-rated passenger; age 19; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1; seat: front; restraint: none; toxicology performed ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: KOLM, 16 nm away - METAR: METAR KOLM 141954Z 28005KT 10SM FEW034 17/09 A2997 RMK AO2 SLP148 T01720094= ## 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 20180914013559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180914013559A), Sep 14, 2018: Gruber Robert F BEELZABUB, Rochester, WA, Substantial damage, 2 fatal. On September 14, 2018, at approximately 1115HRS an amateur built experimental aircraft N382T s/n 001 was involved in an accident and sustained substantial… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 19, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98298. 11.4 MB in all. - NTSB exam report (item 1, PDF, 3 pages, 134 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13618410&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Exam%20Report%20WPR18FA261_Redacted-Rel.pdf - NTSB memo of record - autopsy (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 45 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13173616&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memo%20for%20Record%20Autopsy-Rel.pdf - Toxicological report - (pilot) (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 226 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13160883&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=TOX%20ELifesong%202018_188_001_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Toxicological report - (pilot-rated passenger) (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 343 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13160857&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=TOX%20BLamphere%202018_188_002_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 5, PDF, 12 pages, 10.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13160967&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-Rel.pdf - Corrected record of conversation - larsen (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 432 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14473360&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CORRECTED%20Record%20of%20Conversation,%20Larsen_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Original report with revisions (item 7, PDF, 9 pages, 187 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14478201&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR18FA261_Original%20report%20with%20revisions-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.