Icarus

NTSB FINAL REPORT
AIRCRAFT: Exceed Piper J3 Cub 4 Ch EP Foamie
LOCATION: Biloxi, Mississippi
INJURIES: 1 bummed but eerily excited


The day prior to the accident the pilot had ground flipped the aircraft sustaining minor prop damage but bending the prop shaft. It was repaired and a flight waiver granted to allow flight awaiting parts and final repair. The aircraft was in otherwise excellent flight condition.


Weather on the morning of the accident was clear, calm, air temp 57 degrees. Flight was conducted under visual meteorologic conditions. No TFRs or METARs were in effect in the flight area, and there were no children or vehicles to avoid. There were no other aircraft in the area. The flight area is an uncontrolled field. The novice light sport pilot is a member of the Academy of Model Aeronautics (# 957918). He has had less than 1 hour of flight time, and all of that in type. He is in good health, but probably should have been drinking...


The pilot reports the plane departed from the lot behind the Pentacostal Church on Popps Ferry in Biloxi, MS, at approximately 0745 hrs, heading west with only the imaginary pilot on board. The aircraft flew well over the entire flight area in excellent control and appeared to fly without any difficulty. The pilot skillfully executed basic flight maneuvers, much to his surprise and pleasure.


At approximately 0749 hrs, the aircraft was seen flying directly over the pilot heading due east, at an altitude of 30 to 40 feet AGL. This newbie mistake caused momentary disorientation, but controlled flight was maintained. However, shortly after reorienting himself the pilot realized he could no longer see the aircraft due sun blindness as the aircraft continued east. Aware that the tree line along the east end of the airfield was fast approaching, he made a slow blind turn to the south. The pilot reports that the aircraft suddenly appeared in the shade in a fast descending right hand turn. The aircraft impacted the ground in uncontrolled flight. Witnesses report the pilot was smiling, saying "Wow... 4 minutes of totally controlled flight!".


The aircraft is substantially damaged but repairable. The pilot sustained no physical injuries, however he is a little mental, and his hands could be seen shaking mildly at the crash site.


CAUSE OF CRASH: Pilot error. Continued flight into terrain after pilot lost orientation of the aircraft due to sun blindness while flying directly into the rising sun. Proper flight planning would have avoided flying the aircraft north and east of the airfield preventing him from needing to navigate the aircraft into a blinding rising sun. Moron.

CRASH PHOTOS:

The crash site is approximately 150 yards behind the church in an open field.

The debris field is limited. 

All of the a/c parts are accounted for.

The tail section of the fuse was still connected to the forward part only by the ESC wires. The motor was still at flight idle.

Starboard

Port

The prop shaft repaired the day before separated forcibly from the motor. The motor was removed from the a/c for inspection. 

It is in excellent condition other than the broken shaft.

The fuse is fully severed at the passenger seat. Top down.

Port

Starboard

Underside

The aircraft is awaiting parts, but most of the original parts will be reused until the pilot learns to control the aircraft properly. It is easily re-buildable (thank goodness for foamies). The pilot is excited about repairing the a/c due to the challenge it presents. He is still smiling and telling anyone, "Did you hear that? 4 minutes of fully controlled flight!"