Schafer Rick W FOXTROT 4 N729AR

Summary

On 31 August 2014 at about 23:34 local time, a Schafer Rick W FOXTROT 4 registered N729AR was involved in an accident near Abilene, Texas, United States. 4 people were on board and 2 died, one was seriously injured, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

31 August 2014 at 23:34

Classification

Accident

Location

Abilene, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Abilene Regional (ABI)

Coordinates

32.4014, -99.6817

Aircraft

Schafer Rick W FOXTROT 4

Registration

N729AR

Category

Airplane

Year built

2014

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Abilene → Abilene

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN14FA468

2 people died.

The pilot's decision to attempt a steep turn to return to the airport after reporting an emergency. The reason for the emergency could not be determined because postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane had departed to the south for a short local flight. When it was about 400 ft above ground level, the pilot declared an emergency and reported to the tower controller that he needed to return to the airport. Witnesses saw the southbound airplane in a steep left bank and then descend into the trees. Evidence at the scene showed that the airplane was moving to the north-northwest when it impacted trees and terrain in a slightly nose-down, right-wing-low attitude. The impact resulted in the complete separation of the wing from the fuselage, and the complete separation of the forward fuselage, engine and propeller. All three adult occupants were ejected or partially ejected. The fourth occupant, a child restrained by a 4-point child safety seat in a rear seating position, sustained minor injuries and was removed from the wreckage by emergency responders shortly after the crash. Both fuel tanks were breached, fuel spilled from the tanks, but there was no postimpact fire. The examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The reason for the emergency reported by the pilot could not be determined. Flat, cultivated agricultural fields south of the accident location would have provided a more suitable emergency landing area rather than to attempt a steep turn to return to the airport.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.