Gustafson Easy Eagle accident near Milton, FL
On August 6, 2005, a Gustafson Easy Eagle (airplane) was involved in an accident near Milton, FL. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- August 6, 2005
- Place
- Milton, FL
- Aircraft
- Gustafson Easy Eagle · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 30.637°N, 86.994°W
- NTSB ID
- 20050823X01302
Official records · MIA05LA146
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
On August 6, 2005, about 1410 eastern daylight time, a wheel-equipped experimental/homebuilt, Gustafson Easy Eagle, N707DG, was destroyed by impact and postimpact fire when it collided with tree-covered terrain following a loss of engine power, and a subsequent forced landing during initial takeoff climb from the Peter Prince Field Airport, Milton, Florida. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The certificated commercial pilot, the sole occupant, received second and third degree burns to 70 percent of his body. As a result, he died on August 8, 2005. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The local area test flight originated from the Peter Prince Field Airport at the time of the accident. A witness, who was a personal friend of the accident pilot, reported to responding emergency personnel that the accident flight was the first flight since the accident pilot had built and certified the experimental amateur-built airplane. He said that as he watched the airplane depart on Runway 36, it began a very shallow, gradual climb. He commented that the airplane's takeoff run appeared to be longer than he would have anticipated, and noted that once the airplane became airborne, the airplane began a shallow flat left turn, with a nose high attitude. The witness said, in part: "It appeared the plane was not at full power." The witness reported that it appeared that the accident pilot was attempting to enter the downwind leg for landing on run
Probable cause
A loss of engine power during initial climb after takeoff for an undetermined reason, which resulted in a forced landing and subsequent in-flight collision with tree-covered terrain.
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Browse: Florida
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
