Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lajas, Puerto Rico 00667
Saturday, November 13, 2010 17:10 AST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The non-certified pilot departed for a local flight and, during cruise flight, a witness reported seeing the airplane in a nose-low attitude spinning two times before impacting the ground in an open field. A postaccident inspection of the airframe revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction. The engine was started without a propeller and the engine and engine systems were found to operate normally. Results of postmortem toxicology testing were consistent with the regular use of a prescription antidepressant and relatively recent use of two different prescription medications that may be used for anxiety or as sleep aids. The investigation considered the possibility that the pilot may have been impaired by the recent use of an anti-anxiety medication or by the conditions for which the medications were prescribed; however, the role of any possible impairment in the accident could not be conclusively determined.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and entry into a spin.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/13/2010
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1710
Event Time Zone Atlantic Standard Time
Event City Lajas
Event State PUERTO RICO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 00667
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 180010N
Event Location Longitude 0665853W
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 1650 Atlantic Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 344
Weather Observation Facility ID BQN
Elevation of weather observation facility 237
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 31
Time Zone of the weather observation AST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 4000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 21
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 20
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.91
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) 28716
NTSB Notification Source FAA Southern C-ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 9 2011 3:19PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5593F
NTSB Number ERA11LA056
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 CARLO ROBERT
Aircraft Model QUICKSILVER SPT 2S
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number SPORT 25 0048
Certified Max Gross Weight 1000
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 Conditional
Date of Last Inspection Jan 30 2010 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name CARLO ROBERT
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City LAJAS
Aircraft Owner State PR
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 00667-3434
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name CARLO ROBERT
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City LAJAS
Operator State PR
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 00667-3434
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 --
Departure City Lajas
Departure State PR
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1500
Departure Time Zone AST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Lajas
Destination State PR
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 9 2011 3:19PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --