ATL98LA067

Factual narrative

On April 26, 1998, about 1743 eastern daylight time a non-registered FreeBird Sport homebuilt airplane collided with the ground while on left base to runway 030 at the Buchan Airport in Englewood, Florida. The airplane was operated by the non-certificated pilot, and visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight. The non certificated pilot and sole occupant sustained fatal injuries, and the airplane was destroyed. The flight had originated about 10 minutes prior to the accident. A witness stated that she was on her rear lanai, when she heard an airplane engine cough, and saw a shadow go across her backyard and then saw the airplane crash into her neighbors backyard. Another witness who was a pilot stated that he saw the airplane takeoff from Buchan Airfield. He said the airplane was in the air for about 3 to 5 minutes and then the engine sputtered. He said the airplane then went upside down and fell straight into the ground. Another witness, the cousin of the pilot stated that he was taking pictures of the airplane. He said it didn't appear that the pilot was having any difficulty with the airplane when it suddenly went upside down and fell straight to the ground. According to the FAA, the airplane was destroyed on impact and neither the pilot nor the airplane was certificated. Examination of the airplane by the FAA found that it did not comply with 14 CFR Part 103, in that it was a two place airplane, and had a 10 gallon fuel capacity. The FAA's Toxicological and Accident Research Laboratory performed a toxicology examination. There was no carbon monoxide, cyanide or ethanol detected in the blood or vitreous fluid. However, Pseudoephedrin was detected in the liver fluid, 0.108 & 0.709 Diphenhydramine was detected in the blood and liver fluid respectively, and Phenylpropanolamine was detected in the liver fluid and blood. Diphenhydramine is more commonly known as Benadryl. A non-registered FreeBird Sport homebuilt airplane collided with a house and subsequently the ground while on left base to runway 030 at the Buchan Airport in Englewood, Florida. The airplane was operated by a non-certificated pilot. A witness who was a pilot stated that he saw the airplane takeoff from Buchan Airfield. He said the airplane was in the air for about 3 to 5 minutes and then the engine sputtered. He said the airplane then went upside down and fell straight into the ground. Another witness, the cousin of the pilot stated that he was taking pictures of the airplane. He said it didn't appear that the pilot was having any difficulty with the airplane when it suddenly went upside down and fell straight to the ground. According to the FAA's Toxicological report the pilot had a high level of Diphenhydramine in the blood which would cause drowsiness. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12