Garrett STEPHENS AKRO N45KY

Summary

On 26 July 2004 at about 20:50 local time, a Garrett STEPHENS AKRO registered N45KY, operated by Jaroslav V Svoboda, was involved in an accident near Westport, New York, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

26 July 2004 at 20:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Westport, New York, United States

Nearest airport

Westport Airport (N25)

Coordinates

44.1583, -73.4328

Aircraft

Garrett STEPHENS AKRO

Registration

N45KY

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Jaroslav V Svoboda

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Westport → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC04LA178

1 person died.

The pilot's loss of aircraft control while maneuvering, due to incapacitation, which resulted in a collision with terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot had approximately 900 hours of total flight experience, and performed aerobatics often. He had been performing aerobatics throughout the day. During the aerobatic routines, the engine noise would cease during a dive, and then return during the recovery. The pilot had completed about 10 minutes of an approximate 15-minute aerobatic routine. The first 10 minutes seemed normal. However, the airplane then performed an unusual maneuver, never seen before, and descended in a spiraling nose down attitude. It did not appear that the pilot attempted to recover from the dive, or jettison the canopy. Witnesses reported that there was no engine noise during the last maneuver. Examination of the wreckage revealed fuel in the fuel tank. There was no forward travel at the accident site, or rotational signatures on the propeller. The pilot's autopsy report revealed that he had severe coronary artery disease, and may have suffered a momentary loss of consciousness, but blood at the scene was consistent with heart action continuing during impact.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.