Hall Wendall W HARMON ROCKET II N729PS

Summary

On 24 March 2016 at about 11:48 local time, a Hall Wendall W HARMON ROCKET II registered N729PS was involved in an accident near Cheraw, South Carolina, 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

24 March 2016 at 11:48

Classification

Accident

Location

Cheraw, South Carolina, United States

Coordinates

34.7228, -79.8828

Aircraft

Hall Wendall W HARMON ROCKET II

Registration

N729PS

Category

Airplane

Year built

2016

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Cheraw → Cheraw

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA16LA139

1 person died.

The pilot's decision to fly at low altitude, which resulted in a collision with power lines.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airline transport pilot was conducting a local flight in his experimental, amateur-built airplane. Several witnesses observed, and GPS data confirmed, that the accident airplane flew a significant portion of the 38-minute flight at low altitude, at least twice flying as low as 50 ft above ground level. The airplane subsequently collided with power lines that spanned the river. Examination of the wreckage and review of engine monitor data did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. Toxicology testing of the pilot revealed the presence of a muscle relaxant with potential mental and physical impairing side effects; however, the levels of the drug or its effect on the pilot's decision-making could not be determined based on the available information.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.