Aero Adventure ZEPHYR II N3577F

Summary

On 18 September 2011 at about 22:21 local time, a Aero Adventure ZEPHYR II registered N3577F, operated by Abbott Timothy Ralph, was involved in an accident near Sylacauga, Alabama, 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

18 September 2011 at 22:21

Classification

Accident

Location

Sylacauga, Alabama, United States

Nearest airport

Sylacauga Municipal Airport (SCD)

Coordinates

33.1697, -86.3031

Aircraft

Aero Adventure ZEPHYR II

Registration

N3577F

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Abbott Timothy Ralph

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Sylacauga → Sylacauga

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA11LA496

1 person died.

The pilot's incapacitation due to a heart attack during takeoff, which led to an in-flight loss of airplane control.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During climb after takeoff, the experimental light sport airplane made an extreme right bank and descended nose-down into a grassy area adjacent to the runway. Although the pilot had recently modified the elevator trim, the in-flight upset was not a pitch upset, and examination of the wreckage revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions. The pilot's most recent Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) third-class medical certificate was issued about 8 years prior to the accident. A few months before the accident, the pilot had applied for another FAA third-class medical certificate; however, it was deferred by the FAA due to the pilot’s history of coronary artery disease, hypertension, lymphoma, and diabetes. The pilot's autopsy subsequently revealed that he suffered a fatal heart attack during the attempted takeoff.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.