Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lake Charles, Louisiana 70601
Monday, June 17, 1985 19:30 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ACFT IMPACTED THE TERRAIN IN AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT. WITNESSES STATED THE ACFT WAS PARTICIPATING IN A BEAN BAG DROP CONTEST WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. AFTER DROPPING THE LAST BAG THE ACFT MADE A TURN TO THE WEST, ENTERED A SPIN AND DESCENDED TO GROUND IMPACT. THE PLT'S DAUGHTER REPORTED THE PLT HAD BEEN FEELING ILL AND WAS UNUSUALLY THIRSTY DURING THE 2 DAYS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE CORONER REPORTED IN THE AUTOPSY, '... THE DECEASED WAS SUFFERING FROM SEVERE MYOCARDIAL ISCHEMIA OR AN EARLY MYOCARDIAL INFRACTION. THE SUBSEQUENT DEVELOPEMENT OF A MYOCARDIAL ARRYTHMIA OR CARDIAL ARREST INFRACTION COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A SUDDEN LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT WITH SUBSEQUENT CRASH.'

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/17/1985
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1930
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City LAKE CHARLES
Event State LOUISIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 70601
Event Date Year 1985
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Witness
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 24
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2264
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 17 1985 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2015
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 29742
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4438V
NTSB Number FTW85FRD02
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name TERATORN
Aircraft Model TIERRA II
Aircraft Series Identifier TIERRA II
Aircraft Serial Number 3449749
Certified Max Gross Weight 735
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ELWIN LEROY FAULK, SR
Aircraft Owner Street Address RT 1 BOX 194
Aircraft Owner City LONGVILLE
Aircraft Owner State LA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 70652
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code LA21
Departure City LAKE CHARLES
Departure State LA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1920
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --