Johnson David Earl RENEGADE SPIRIT N955R

Summary

On 13 December 2014 at about 18:40 local time, a Johnson David Earl RENEGADE SPIRIT registered N955R was involved in an accident near Brunswick, Georgia, 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

13 December 2014 at 18:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Brunswick, Georgia, United States

Nearest airport

McKinnon St Simons Island (SSI)

Coordinates

31.1456, -81.3883

Aircraft

Johnson David Earl RENEGADE SPIRIT

Registration

N955R

Category

Airplane

Year built

1995

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Brunswick → Brunswick

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA15LA075

1 person died.

The pilot's decision to fly the airplane with known engine deficiencies and his subsequent exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack following a loss of engine power, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and loss of control after takeoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot had owned the experimental amateur-built airplane for about 3 years but had never flown it. He had performed several hours of taxi and ground tests while troubleshooting the operation of the engine that he had installed in the airplane. On the day of the accident, the pilot told an acquaintance that he had been having trouble with the airplane's brakes and that the engine was idling too high. After adjusting the carburetor, engine operation seemed to have improved, and the pilot said that he might try flying the airplane. The acquaintance cautioned the pilot against doing so given the condition of the brakes and inconsistent engine operation; however, the pilot proceeded to the runway and departed. Two witnesses near the accident site saw the airplane in a left bank as though the pilot was attempting to return to the runway. One of the witnesses, who was a pilot, heard the engine lose power and saw the airplane descend in a manner consistent with an aerodynamic stall. Postaccident examination revealed that all flight controls were continuous from the cockpit to their respective control surfaces. The fuel lines to the engine were unobstructed. Examination of the engine revealed continuity throughout and established compression on all cylinders; however, no further examination of the engine or its accessories was performed, and the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined. The airplane's descent and impact attitude were consistent with a loss of control due to an exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack and a subsequent aerodynamic stall following a loss of engine power.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.