Carris AVID AIRCRAFT N9174D

Summary

On 1 April 2007 at about 18:54 local time, a Carris AVID AIRCRAFT registered N9174D, operated by Charles K. Scherer, was involved in an accident near Delray, Florida, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

1 April 2007 at 18:54

Classification

Accident

Location

Delray, Florida, United States

Coordinates

26.4500, -80.1333

Aircraft

Carris AVID AIRCRAFT

Registration

N9174D

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Charles K. Scherer

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Delray Beach → Delray Beach

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC07LA027

2 people were seriously injured.

The loss of engine power during cruise flight for an undetermined reason, and the pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during an emergency descent, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and in-flight collision with terrain. A factor associated with the accident was the inadvertent stall.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot, with one passenger, was conducing a Title 14, CFR Part 91 personal flight in an experimental, homebuilt airplane. As a result of the accident, the pilot sustained serious injuries, and was unable to recall any details about the accident. According to rescue personnel that responded to the accident site, the pilot reported a loss of engine power during cruise flight, and the accident happened as he was attempting a forced landing in an open field. Witnesses reported seeing the accident airplane fly over the open field, followed by a series of descending, spiral turns over the intended landing site. As the airplane continued the series of turns, it abruptly nosed down, and struck the ground nose first. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. An FAA airworthiness inspector inspected the airplane wreckage after its recovery. The inspector said that the right fuel tank contained about 4 gallons of fuel, and the left fuel tank was empty. He also reported that he did not discover any preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane or the engine.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.