Individually Owned: 150,657
Corporate Owned: 137,281
Mclendon Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report
Savannah, Georgia 31405
Friday, March 5, 2010 10:30 EST
NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident
Prior to engine start, the pilot advised the witness that he intended to fly for about 45 minutes and remain close to the departure airport. The witness performed a hand start of the airplane for the pilot. After the second attempt, the engine started and the witness stated everything sounded and appeared normal but the takeoff appeared a little wobbly, but quite normal considering the breezy conditions. He repeated that he noticed nothing out of the ordinary with the pilot, the engine, or the airplane. The witness departed the airport before the pilot was expected to return that afternoon.
The airplane was located submerged in a pond, about 100 yards off the departure end of the runway, the following day. There were no witnesses to the accident. Examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The damage was indicative of a low-power, low-speed, aerodynamic stall and collision with water. Post mortem examination of the pilot revealed the presence of arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease and hypertensive heart disease, and the recent use of antidepressants, anti-anxiety, and painkilling medications. It was not known to what degree, if any, these issues affected the outcome of the flight. The pilot's most recent medical certificate was issued 19 years prior to the accident, but he was not required to hold a current one while operating as a sport pilot.
NTSB Probable Cause Narrative
The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed and inadvertent stall after takeoff.
Event Information
| Type of Event | Accident |
| Event Date | 3/5/2010 |
| Event Day of the Week | Friday |
| Time of Event | 1030 |
| Event Time Zone | Eastern Standard Time |
| Event City | Savannah |
| Event State | GEORGIA |
| Event Country | -- |
| Zipcode of the event site | 31405 |
| Event Date Year | 2010 |
| Event Date Month | 3 |
| MidAir Collision Indicator | No |
| On Ground Collision occurred ? | No |
| Event Location Latitude | 313506N |
| Event Location Longitude | 0844716W |
| Event Location Airport | McLendon |
| Event Location Nearest Airport ID | GA39 |
| Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport | Off Airport/Airstrip |
| Distance from airport in statute miles | 1 |
| Degrees magnetic from airport | -- |
| Airport Elevation | 360 |
| Weather Briefing Completeness | -- |
| Investigator's weather source | Weather Observation Facility |
| Time of the weather observation | 1053 Eastern Standard Time |
| Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) | 360 |
| Weather Observation Facility ID | SAV |
| Elevation of weather observation facility | 50 |
| Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) | 8 |
| Time Zone of the weather observation | EST |
| 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) | 11 |
| Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) | -7 |
| Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) | 200 |
| Variable Wind Indicator | Wind direction could be determined |
| Wind Speed (knots) | 7 |
| Wind Velocity Indicator | -- |
| Wind Gust Indicator | Not Gusting |
| Wind Gust (knots) | -- |
| Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) | 30.15 |
| 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) | 28818 |
| NTSB Notification Source | FAA Southern Region CROC |
| NTSB Notification Date | -- |
| NTSB Notification Time | -- |
| Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | Sep 29 2011 9:25AM |
| User who most recently changed record | andj |
| Basic weather conditions | Visual Meteorological Cond |
| FAA District Office | -- |
Aircraft Involved |
|
|---|---|
Aircraft #1 |
|
| Aircraft Registration Number | N45976 |
| NTSB Number | ERA10LA164 |
| 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 | LUSCOMBE |
| Aircraft Model | 8A |
| Aircraft Series Identifier | -- |
| Aircraft Serial Number | 2503 |
| Certified Max Gross Weight | 1260 |
| Aircraft Category | Airplane |
| Aircraft Registration Class | -- |
| 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 | 100 Hour |
| Date of Last Inspection | Feb 26 2010 12:00AM |
| Airframe hours since last inspection | -- |
| Airframe Hours | 1617 |
| ELT Installed | No |
| ELT Activated | No |
| ELT Aided Location of Event Site | No |
| ELT Type | Unknown |
| Aircraft Owner Name | GAUTREAU ARTHUR G |
| Aircraft Owner Street Address | -- |
| Aircraft Owner City | RICHMOND HILL |
| Aircraft Owner State | GA |
| Aircraft Owner Country | USA |
| Aircraft Owner Zipcode | 31324-5345 |
| Operator is an individual? | No |
| Operator Name | GAUTREAU ARTHUR G |
| Operator Same as Owner? | Yes |
| Operator Is Doing Business As | -- |
| Operator Address Same as Owner? | Yes |
| Operator Street Address | -- |
| Operator City | RICHMOND HILL |
| Operator State | GA |
| Operator Country | USA |
| Operator Zip code | 31324-5345 |
| 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 | No |
| Departure Point Same as Event | Yes |
| Departure Airport Code | GA39 |
| Departure City | Savannah |
| Departure State | GA |
| Departure Country | USA |
| Departure Time | 1030 |
| Departure Time Zone | EST |
| Destination Same as Local Flt | dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere |
| Destination Airport Code | GA39 |
| Destination City | Savannah |
| Destination State | GA |
| Destination Country | USA |
| Specific Phase of Flight | -- |
| Report sent to ICAO? | -- |
| Evacuation occurred | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | Aug 24 2011 9:27AM |
| User who most recently changed record | kenj |
| Since inspection or accident | Time of Accident |
| Event Location Runway Number and Location | 36 |
| Runway Length | 2000 |
| Runway Width | 40 |
| Sight Seeing flight | No |
| Air Medical Flight | No |
| Medical Flight | -- |