SEA03LA095

Factual narrative

On June 5, 2003, about 2100 Pacific daylight time, an unregistered experimental Rans S-14, owned and operated by the pilot as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, impacted flat open terrain while maneuvering near Pasco, Washington. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the private pilot was fatally injured. The flight originated from Richland, Washington, about 45 minutes prior to the accident. A witness reported that he was about 3/4 mile from the accident site location. He reported that he observed four small aircraft flying in the area. Three of the aircraft departed to the east, while the fourth remained in the area conducting aerial maneuvers between 50 and 100 feet above ground level. The witness stated that the maneuvers consisted of hard banking turns, steep climbs and descents. The aircraft then pulled up sharply, banked steeply and descended rapidly. The witness stated that it appeared that the pilot tried to pull out of the dive before he lost sight of the aircraft behind terrain. The aircraft came to rest inverted in an open flat field located approximately 12 miles north of the Tri-Cities Airport, Pasco. The accident site elevation was approximately 900 feet. A Federal Aviation Administration Inspector from the Spokane, Washington, Flight Standards District Office responded to the accident site. The inspector reported that ground impact signatures and aircraft damage indicated that the aircraft collided with the flat terrain in a nose low and slight right wing low attitude. The right wing remained attached to the wing root and displayed span wise compression with chordwise twisting. The right main landing gear wheel composite leg was shattered, with the wheel hanging by the hydraulic hose. The left wing remained attached to the wing root. Except for a bend in the wing lift strut, the wing structure was intact. The left main landing gear leg was intact. Flight control continuity was established throughout the system. All flight control surfaces remained attached to their respective hinges. The bottom of the fuselage was crushed upward. The top of the cabin area was crushed downward due to the inverted position which compromised the cockpit area. Approximately three gallons of fuel was present in both wing fuel tanks. Fuel was found in both carburetors. The propeller assembly remained attached at the propeller flange. All three of the composite propeller blades were damaged at the blade tips. The crankshaft was found to rotate easily by hand. Compression was developed in each cylinder. A search for maintenance records at the pilot's residence and aircraft hangar was unsuccessful. An autopsy was performed by Daniel Selove, MD, Franklin County Coroner. The pathological findings indicated that the pilot died of asphyxia due to fractures of ribs and sternum due to the plane crash. The findings further stated "Another significant condition contributory to death is positional asphyxia (according to a scene description of the decedent "bent sharply forward/bent double" at the abdomen in his post-crash position)." Routine blood and urine were obtained for testing at the Washington State Toxicology Laboratory. The results of the testing indicated blood ethanol concentration = 0.19 g/100 ml. Toxicological samples were also sent to the Federal Aviation Administration Civil Aeromedical Institute, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma for analysis. The results of the analysis revealed Ethanol was detected in Blood, Urine, Vitreous, Muscle and Brain. Acetaldehyde was detected in Blood, Urine, Vitreous and Brain. A witness reported that he observed four small aircraft flying in the area. Three of the aircraft departed to the east, while the fourth remained in the area conducting aerial maneuvers between 50 and 100 feet above ground level. The witness stated that the maneuvers consisted of hard banking turns, steep climbs and descents. The aircraft then pulled up sharply, banked steeply and descended rapidly. The witness stated that it appeared that the pilot tried to pull out of the dive before he lost sight of the aircraft behind terrain. On site documentation of the wreckage noted that the aircraft collided with the flat terrain in a nose low and slight right wing low attitude. Flight control continuity was established throughout the system. Toxicological analysis revealed ethanol in blood (171 mg/dL), urine (363 mg/dL), and vitreous (231 mg/dL)specimens from the pilot. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12