Brallier Scott GLASAIR I accident near Gulf of Mexico, FL

On May 26, 2024, a Brallier Scott GLASAIR I (airplane) was involved in an accident near Gulf of Mexico, FL. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.

Date

May 26, 2024

Place

Gulf of Mexico, FL

Aircraft

Brallier Scott GLASAIR I · Airplane

Injuries

1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor

Damage

Destroyed

Position

29.912°N, 84.193°W

NTSB ID

20240526194311

Official records · ERA24LA227

• Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation

Air traffic control records

• FAA Chronological Summary Of Flight Communications: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
• NTSB Prepared Partial Transcription Of Communications: Transcript (PDF), on ntsb.gov
• Memorandum For Record - R29 Additional Communication Transmissions From R29 Controller And N2134l: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov

NTSB summary

HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn May 25, 2024, about 2155 eastern daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built Glasair 1 airplane, N446KW, was destroyed when it descended into the Gulf of Mexico about 10 nautical miles east-northeast of Alligator Point, Florida. The private pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Flight track data and air traffic control (ATC) audio information revealed that the pilot departed Destin Executive Airport (DTS), Destin, Florida, about 2101, with an intended destination of Zephyrhills, Florida. After takeoff, the airplane proceeded east-southeast while receiving visual flight rules flight following services. As the airplane proceeded over the Gulf of Mexico, it completed multiple slight heading and altitude changes. Between 2148:57 and 2149:18, when the airplane was about 5 nautical miles past the shoreline, it flew on an east-northeasterly heading at an altitude about 6,700 ft, after which it began turning to the right. At 2149:23, while flying on an east-southeasterly heading, the pilot was issued an air traffic control frequency change, which he correctly read back. The airplane continued the right turn to a south-southeasterly direction before entering a left turn. The airplane continued turning left, and at 2154:09, the pilot broadcast a mayday call on the frequency he had been instructed to change to and advised the controller that the flight was going down in Apalachee Bay. One final communication from the pilot occurred at 2154:38, immediately before water impact. That c

Probable cause

The non-instrument-rated pilot’s loss of airplane control due to spatial disorientation while flying over water in dark night conditions. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to conduct the overwater flight in conditions conducive to the development of spatial disorientation.

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Browse: Florida

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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.