Lowe SUPER KOALA N4424V

Summary

On 30 March 1997 at about 20:20 local time, a Lowe SUPER KOALA registered N4424V was involved in an accident near Perry Township, Pennsylvania, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

30 March 1997 at 20:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Perry Township, Pennsylvania, United States

Coordinates

40.5498, -75.9799

Aircraft

Lowe SUPER KOALA

Registration

N4424V

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC97LA066

2 people died.

improper construction by the builder which led to the failure of the strut and wing assembly.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

A witness heard the airplane flying overhead, and heard a 'sharp snap.' When he looked, he estimated that the airplane was about 1,500 to 2,500 feet above the ground, descending in a wide 'swirling' motion, counter clockwise. The airplane struck the ground about 2,000 feet from his residence. The homebuilt airplane had been constructed in Florida, and then purchased by another pilot. The new owner trailered the airplane to Pennsylvania, and installed the wings. The airplane was inspected by a FAA Inspector, test flown for 40 hours by the accident pilot and the owner, and had an annual inspection performed on it. After the annual inspection, it was again inspected by the FAA Inspector, and an airworthiness certificate was issued. About 4 to 5 flight hours later the accident occurred. Examination of the wreckage revealed the right rear jury strut was broken from the rear spar attaching point, with the jury base plate still intact. The two self locking nuts and bolts holding the base plate to the spar were only finger tight. The jury strut connections were not visible through the completed wing inspection holes. Some glued areas contained sanding marks, but were not covered with glue.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.