Quad City CHALLENGER N56906

Summary

On 10 September 2020 at about 20:00 local time, a Quad City CHALLENGER registered N56906 was involved in an accident near Sweetwater, Tennessee, 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

10 September 2020 at 20:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Sweetwater, Tennessee, United States

Nearest airport

West Wind Airpark (TN64)

Coordinates

35.5550, -84.5197

Aircraft

Quad City CHALLENGER

Registration

N56906

Category

Airplane

Year built

2004

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA20LA312

1 person died.

A loss of control for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Despite being told by the airplane owner that he could taxi, but not fly, the airplane, the pilot conducted a high-speed taxi and took off. About 250 to 300 ft above ground level, the airplane suddenly nosed over. The owner, who witnessed the takeoff, stated that the engine was not seized, and the propeller was still spinning when the airplane disappeared behind trees. Examination revealed no anomalies with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation, and damage signatures and witness accounts indicated that the engine was producing power at the time of the accident. Toxicology testing detected THC-COOH, the inactive metabolite of THC, in the pilot’s liver and lung tissue. Gabapentin, promethazine, norchlorcyclizine, duloxetine, citalopram, its metabolite n-desmethylcitalopram, and trazodone were detected in the pilot’s liver tissue; except for trazodone, these compounds were also detected in the pilot’s muscle tissue. Since only the inactive metabolite of THC was detected, it is unlikely that the effects from the pilot’s use of cannabis were a factor in this accident. Autopsy findings did not show evidence of any potentially sudden incapacitating event. Thus, it is unlikely that the pilot’s medical conditions or his use of detected prescription medications contributed to the accident. Although the circumstances of the accident are consistent with a loss of control, the reason for the loss of control could not be determined based on the available information.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.