Mike Smilee CGS HAWK II ARROW UNREG

Summary

On 21 October 2006 at about 13:02 local time, a Mike Smilee CGS HAWK II ARROW registered UNREG, operated by Nicholas J. Tedesco, Jr., was involved in an accident near Crystal Springs, Florida, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

21 October 2006 at 13:02

Classification

Accident

Location

Crystal Springs, Florida, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Mike Smilee CGS HAWK II ARROW

Registration

UNREG

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Nicholas J. Tedesco, Jr.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Plant City → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA07LA009

2 people died.

The failure of the non-rated pilot to maintain airspeed. A finding in the accident was a malfunction of the ignition switch.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The unqualified pilot-in-command initiated the flight in the unregistered airplane, and approximately 32-47 minutes after takeoff, a witnesses reported hearing a sputtering sound, followed by a cracking sound then an impact. The airplane descended nearly vertical, and impacted trees then the ground. Examination of the airframe revealed no evidence of pre-impact failure or malfunction, and there was no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction of the flight controls for roll, pitch, or yaw. Impact damage to the engine precluded operational testing of it. Examination of the engine revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction of the power section. Examination of the fuel system components including both carburetors, the fuel pump, and in-line fuel filter revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction. Examination of both ignition coils revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction. Examination of the ignition switch revealed a malfunction with the switch when positioned to the "both start" position; the left magneto did not operate when the switch was in the "both start" position. The airplane flight manual indicates that there may not be any prestall buffet.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.