Person Jogging On The Beach Was Killed When Aircraft Made An
Emergency Landing
The NTSB has issued its preliminary report on an accident in
which a Lancair IV-P experienced an engine failure and made an
emergency landing on a beach in South Carolina. A person jogging on
the beach was struck and killed by the airplane as it landed
on the sand. The two people in the airplane were uninjured.
NTSB Identification: ERA10LA175
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Monday, March 15, 2010 in Hilton Head Island,
SC
Aircraft: SMITH EDWARD I LANCAIR IV-P, registration: N9JE
Injuries: 1 Fatal, 2 Uninjured.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may
contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when
the final report has been completed.
On March 15, 2010, about 1800 EDT, an experimental amateur-built
Smith Lancair IV-P, N9JE, registered to and operated by a private
owner, lost engine power during cruise flight near Hilton Head,
South Carolina, and struck a pedestrian while making a forced
landing on a beach. The pilot and passenger were not injured and
the pedestrian was killed. The airplane sustained minor damage.
Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight
rules (IFR) flight plan was filed for the personal flight from
Orlando Executive Airport (KORL), Orlando, Florida, to Hampton
Roads Executive Airport (KPVG), Norfolk, Virginia.
The pilot stated that during cruise flight at 13,000 feet over
the shore, he observed the instrument panel beginning to vibrate
heavily. Oil began to cover the wind screen, followed by a loud
"bang". The nose of the airplane pitched up and the engine stopped.
The pilot reported the problem to air traffic control and
maneuvered the airplane to make an emergency landing on a nearby
beach.
According to a witness, he watched as the airplane made a series
of unusual turns. He did not realize that the airplane was in
distress at the time, but continued to follow its movements. The
airplane descended on a right base as it flew perpendicular to the
beach. As the airplane descended it flew directly over the witness
and he noticed that the airplane had an engine-out emergency. The
airplane touched down approximately 200 feet in front of the
witness, in an area where there were several pedestrians. The
airplane came to rest at the water's edge and a fallen pedestrian
was observed lying on the beach.
Examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector revealed that
the airplane came to rest on a beach. The airframe was intact, and
all flight control system components revealed no evidence of
preimpact mechanical malfunction. Further examination of the
airplane revealed that the propeller assembly separated from the
crankshaft flange and was missing. The airplane was recovered from
the beach and examination of the engine was scheduled for a later
date.