Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Santa Rosa Bch, Florida 32459
Wednesday, July 24, 2002 11:37 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The flight departed at 1034, and approximately 5 minutes after takeoff, the pilot advised a controller at Eglin Approach Control that his flight was 2 miles southeast of the east training area. There was no contact with the pilot and that facility until 1134, when the pilot advised the controller that the flight was returning to his departure airport. A witness who was located within 1 mile of the accident site reported watching the airplane for about 15-20 minutes, and near the end of the flight, observed the airplane loop followed by several rolls. When the airplane was positioned nose down at a 45-degree angle, he and his brother observed a piece either 3 feet by 3 feet, or 2 feet by 3 feet separate from the airplane. The witness did not believe the airplane was out of control at that point in time. Review of recorded radar data consisting of primary radar returns revealed the last radar returns indicate the airplane was turning to the left; altitude information was not available. The airplane crashed into a heavily wooded area; no evidence of in-flight breakup or postcrash fire was noted. The canopy was missing from the accident site and was not located. Examination of the airplane by FAA airworthiness inspectors revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction of the flight controls. Examination of the canopy mechanism and engine by the NTSB revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The separation of the canopy for undetermined reasons.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/24/2002
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1137
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Santa Rosa Bch
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 32459
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 302150N
Event Location Longitude 0861216W
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 --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1153 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID KDTS
Elevation of weather observation facility 23
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 30
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 25
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 220
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.09
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 15331
NTSB Notification Source FAA Comm Center
NTSB Notification Date Jul 24 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2027
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Apr 28 2004 3:34PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Birmingham, Alabama

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1535G
NTSB Number MIA02LA139
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Interavia
Aircraft Model E-3
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 0210
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name David G. Naber
Aircraft Owner Street Address 898 17th Tee Cove
Aircraft Owner City Niceville
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 32578
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 No
Departure Airport Code KDTS
Departure City Destin
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1034
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code KDTS
Destination City Destin
Destination State FL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Mar 5 2004 1:47PM
User who most recently changed record KENJ
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --