Wolf GLASSAIR IIS N110UX

Summary

On 18 September 2004 at about 14:15 local time, a Wolf GLASSAIR IIS registered N110UX was involved in an accident near Mesa, Arizona, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

18 September 2004 at 14:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Mesa, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

Falcon Feild (KFFZ)

Coordinates

33.4500, -111.7167

Aircraft

Wolf GLASSAIR IIS

Registration

N110UX

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Mesa → Mesa

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX04LA322

2 people died.

a partial loss of power for undetermined reasons, and, the failure of the pilot to maintain an adequate airspeed while maneuvering for a forced landing that resulted in a stall and a collision with terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Immediately after takeoff the experimental category airplane climbed to 100 feet, rolled left, and collided with terrain. The airplane took off, was airborne by mid field, and climbed to about 100 feet. After the initial climb it did not appear to be climbing or accelerating normally. Some witnesses reported that the engine did not sound good and described engine noise fluctuations. About this time, the pilot transmitted to the local controller that he was declaring an emergency and needed to return for landing. The controller cleared the flight to land on any runway. The airplane then rolled to the left and impacted the ground inverted. The airplane had just completed an annual inspection and was undergoing a post maintenance check flight with the pilot and a mechanic onboard. Components that were replaced or overhauled during the annual inspection included the engine driven fuel pump, the fuel filter, and the supercharger. A post impact ground fire destroyed many engine components, including those that were replaced at the annual, and consumed the composite airframe. The propeller exhibited evidence of leading edge polishing, torsional twisting, and chordwise striations. Examination of the wreckage found no evidence of a preimpact malfunction or failure of the control system or powerplant.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.