Sabre TUKAN N75604

Summary

On 12 October 2008 at about 12:06 local time, a Sabre TUKAN registered N75604, operated by Steve E. Moldon, was involved in an accident near Mohawk, Tennessee, 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

12 October 2008 at 12:06

Classification

Accident

Location

Mohawk, Tennessee, United States

Nearest airport

Cooper Field

Coordinates

36.1733, -83.1639

Aircraft

Sabre TUKAN

Registration

N75604

Engines

1

Operator

Steve E. Moldon

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Mohawk → Mohawk

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA09LA013

1 person died.

The pilot's loss of control in flight due to a lack of flight experience or instruction. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's impairment due to the recent use of marijuana and a prescription painkiller.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Witnesses reported strong gusting wind from the east, but the pilot elected to take off to the west. During the takeoff roll, the aircraft dragged the left wing on the turf runway and nearly collided with a camper. The aircraft climbed between 100 and 150 feet above ground level, and made a “hard left turn” before it entered a nose-down descent and impacted terrain. Witnesses described the engine sound as “wide open” throughout the takeoff and accident sequence. A search of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)records revealed that the pilot held no pilot certificates, nor was there any record of his applying for an FAA medical certificate. A family member reported that the pilot elected to take his first flight in the aircraft solo and without prior instruction. Toxicology testing was consistent with impairment due to recent use of marijuana and a prescription painkiller.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.