Extra Flugzeugbau EA 300/L N12XT

Summary

On 5 June 2008 at about 14:04 local time, a Extra Flugzeugbau EA 300/L registered N12XT was involved in an accident near Gothenburg, Nebraska, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

5 June 2008 at 14:04

Classification

Accident

Location

Gothenburg, Nebraska, United States

Nearest airport

North Platte Municipal Airpor (LBF)

Coordinates

41.1350, -100.1533

Aircraft

Extra Flugzeugbau EA 300/L

Registration

N12XT

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

North Platte → Chicago/Romeovi

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DEN08FA100

1 person died.

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control after encountering instrument meteorological conditions. Contributing to the accident were the pilot's recent usage of Marihuana, his impaired judgement and decision making, and the low visibility weather conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The non-instrument rated private pilot was traveling cross-country to perform in an aerobatics competition. The airplane was not equipped to fly in instrument weather conditions. During the pilot's telephone weather briefing with flight service on the morning of the accident, he was informed of an AIRMET for areas of ceilings less than 1,000 feet and visibility less than three miles along his intended route of flight. He was also informed of areas of thunderstorms forming along a warm front near his location. At the time of departure, weather at LBF was reported as overcast at 900 feet, 10 miles visibility and thunderstorms in the immediate vicinity. Radar data showed the airplane flying erratically with several large heading and altitude changes during the last three minutes of flight. A private pilot witness 3.6 miles from the accident site saw the airplane fly over his home. He said there was a "wet" fog with visibility of about three miles and the pilot was rocking his wings back and forth. The pilot lost visual references outside due to low visibility and the airplane entered a spin and impacted terrain. The pilot was fatally injured and the airplane was destroyed. The parachute equipped pilot did not attempt to egress the airplane. Marijuana was found in the pilot's luggage and toxicological testing found the presence of marihuana in the pilot's blood, urine, lungs and liver. The levels of marijuana found in the pilot indicate he had used marihuana within three hours prior to the accident and was likely impaired by its effects.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.