Us Light Aircraft Corp HORNET accident near Mont Belvieu, TX
On October 28, 2012, an Us Light Aircraft Corp HORNET (airplane) was involved in an accident near Mont Belvieu, TX. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- October 28, 2012
- Place
- Mont Belvieu, TX
- Aircraft
- Us Light Aircraft Corp HORNET · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 29.759°N, 94.871°W
- NTSB ID
- 20121029X21705
Official records · CEN13LA034
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On October 28, 2012, about 1710 central daylight time, Hornet experimental light sport airplane (E-LSA), N2482J, impacted a rice field near Mont Belvieu, Texas. The private pilot and passenger were both fatally injured. The airplane was substantially damaged and a post impact fire ensued. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, that operated without a flight plan. The local flight originated from Baytown, Texas, at an unknown time. According to a witness interviewed by the responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors, the airplane flew low across a field. The airplane passed overhead and he could see the occupants’ faces as they smiled and waved. The witness was driving a tractor, and estimated the airplane’s speed about 40 miles per hour. The airplane flew south towards power lines, climbed to avoid them, and began a turn. The airplane was about 100 feet above the ground before it descended in a nose down attitude towards the terrain. The witness reported gusty wind at the time of the accident. A post impact fire consumed a majority of the fuselage and left wing. An examination of the wreckage did not reveal any preimpact anomalies with the airplane. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot, age 52, held a private pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single engine-land. The pilot was issued a third class medical certificate on August 31, 2011, with the restriction that he
Probable cause
The pilot’s inadequate airspeed management while maneuvering in gusty wind conditions, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the airplane’s low altitude, which did not allow for a stall recovery.
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Browse: Texas
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
