Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Anahuac, Texas 77514
Thursday, January 29, 2009 15:00 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot and two passengers departed in a single-engine homebuilt airplane for a local sightseeing flight. Several witnesses reported that the airplane was "low" and "wiggling up-and-down or weaving side-to-side". They added that the engine sounded like it was "missing" or making "popping" noise before the airplane then disappeared behind a row of trees. The examination of the engine revealed that the carburetor's venturi throat and throttle plate were sooted and displayed signatures consistent with back-firing up through the induction system. The discharge nozzle was also sooted. Additionally, use of a carburetor icing chart showed the airplane was operating in the general area of "serious to moderate icing at cruise power or serious icing at descent power" at the time of the accident. A review of a video from a camcorder found in the wreckage revealed that the right seat passenger filmed part of the flight leading up to the mishap. A sound spectrum study of the tape revealed that the engine was operating at a constant 2283 rpm until the last 20 seconds of the recording. During the last section of recording the engine speed appeared to fluctuate between 2220 and 2500 rpm; however, it was not determined whether this fluctuation was actually the engine behavior or an induced effected caused by rapid movement of the camera during the recording. It was also noted that the video revealed what appeared to be a routine flight until the last moments of the tape, when the camcorder captured a quick change in the aircraft's bank, pitch (or both). The tape ended prior to the actual accident/impact sequence. Examination of the airframe and engine failed to identify any pre-impact malfunctions.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A loss of control in flight for undetermined reasons.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/29/2009
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1500
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City Anahuac
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 77514
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 1
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 --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1350 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 270
Weather Observation Facility ID EFD
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 25
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 25000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
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) 14
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 360
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.18
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 3
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 26684
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 16 2010 3:16PM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3WC
NTSB Number CEN09LA144
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name COX WILLIAM M
Aircraft Model BEARHAWK
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 303
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Conditional
Date of Last Inspection May 1 2008 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 102
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name COX WILLIAM M
Aircraft Owner Street Address 15807 LAKEVIEW DR
Aircraft Owner City BAYTOWN
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 77520-9380
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name COX WILLIAM M
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 15807 LAKEVIEW DR
Operator City BAYTOWN
Operator State TX
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 77520-9380
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 54T
Departure City Baytown
Departure State TX
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone --
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code 54T
Destination City Baytown
Destination State TX
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 16 2010 3:17PM
User who most recently changed record johb
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --