Polaris Polar Star accident near Dewees Island, SC
On July 20, 2011, a Polaris Polar Star (airplane) was involved in an accident near Dewees Island, SC. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- July 20, 2011
- Place
- Dewees Island, SC
- Aircraft
- Polaris Polar Star · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 32.852°N, 79.718°W
- NTSB ID
- 20110723X90556
Official records · ERA11LA415
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On July 20, 2011, about 1815 eastern daylight time, an unregistered, experimental Polaris Polar Star flying boat incurred substantial damage when it crashed into the water near Dewees Island, South Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flying boat was owned and operated by the non-certificated pilot, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, as a local personal flight. The pilot and the passenger were killed. The flight originated earlier that day, at an unspecified time and location. Witnesses to the accident gave statements to the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office representative. They stated that they observed the flying boat complete an aero-loop and started to perform another loop. When the flying boat was at the top of the loop, inverted, at an estimated altitude of 1,000 feet above the water, the wing folded. The flying boat dropped straight down into shallow water. Moments later sea vessels approached the wreckage to aid the two on board; one was trapped in the wreckage and the other was located floating in the water. PERSONNEL INFORMATION A review of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) data base revealed the pilot did not hold a pilot certificate. The pilot required, at minimal, a sport pilot license to operate the flying boat. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The Polaris Polar Star is described as a two place, tandem design, weight-shift-control trike, of fabric and aluminum tubing construction, attached to an inflatable dingy boat, and power by a 64 horsepower Rotax, 582, engine.
Probable cause
The non-certificated pilot’s operation of the unregistered airplane while impaired by alcohol. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s performance of aerobatic maneuvers that exceeded the structural limits of the aircraft, which resulted in failure of the wing due to overload.
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Browse: South Carolina
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
