Loss of control in flight: Fantasy Air Allegro, N969RC, fatal accident occurred on July 7, 2024, near Eureka, Utah

• Location: Eureka, Utah 
• Accident Number: WPR24FA227 
• Date & Time: July 7, 2024, 05:44 Local 
• Registration: N969RC 
• Aircraft: FANTASY AIR SRO ALLEGRO 2007 
• Aircraft Damage: Substantial 
• Defining Event: Loss of control in flight 
• Injuries: 1 Fatal 
• Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

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https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194620

On July 7, 2024, at approximately 0544 mountain daylight time, a Fantasy Air SRO Allegro 2007 airplane, N969RC, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Eureka, Utah. The pilot sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was being operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 as a personal flight.

The pilot departed from a local airport and proceeded to land on a road where, according to acquaintances, the pilot frequently landed to hike in the surrounding area. Flight track data show that the airplane departed from the road a little over an hour after landing and subsequently impacted terrain about a minute later. The wreckage was later located in a field adjacent to the road.

A nearby landowner stated that airplanes occasionally land on the road, though he did not observe the airplane on the day of the accident, and noted that dust devils were a common occurrence in the area. The investigation could not determine whether the pilot obtained a weather briefing before the flight.

Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of a preexisting mechanical malfunction or failure that would have precluded normal operation. However, a flight control locking device was found about 22 ft from the airplane's right wing, raising the possibility that the airplane departed with the control lock installed. The airplane’s co-owner reported that the accident pilot had a history of sometimes omitting the preflight inspection. It is possible that the pilot omitted a departure preflight inspection and left the flight control locking device in place. 

The pilot had severe cardiovascular disease that placed him at increased risk for an impairing or incapacitating cardiac event, including chest pain, arrhythmia, or myocardial infarction. Although the autopsy found no evidence of such an event, cardiac arrhythmias and other acute cardiac conditions may not leave definitive postmortem findings when they occur immediately before death. While a pacemaker may record arrhythmias, the autopsy report did not indicate that the pilot's pacemaker was interrogated to evaluate device function or detect arrhythmias. 

The autopsy and toxicology findings also suggested a likely history of heart failure, a condition commonly associated with fatigue; however, heart failure was not specifically documented in the available medical records. 

Toxicology testing detected citalopram, an antidepressant medication, in the pilot's system. Based on the available evidence, it could not be determined whether the pilot was experiencing impairment from an underlying condition, such as depression, or adverse effects associated with his unreported citalopram use. 

The presence of frequent localized wind events, commonly referred to as dust devils, may have influenced the pilot to expedite his departure during a perceived lull between wind events. In doing so, the pilot likely inadvertently omitted the removal of the airplane's flight control locking device. During the departure, any wind-induced displacement of the wing from a level attitude would have left the pilot with limited ability to correct roll deviations as the aircraft ascended. Compounding the situation was the pilot's underlying medical condition and associated propensity for a cardiac event, which may have further degraded his ability to respond effectively to the developing emergency.

- Probable Cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during initial climb, which resulted in an in-flight upset and impact with terrain.

- Pilot Information:

A review of the pilot’s logbook showed that at the time of the accident, he had accumulated approximately 638 total flight hours, including about 17 hours flown during the 30 days preceding the accident. Most of the pilot's flight experience was acquired between 2022 and 2024. The logbook reflected 60 hours of simulated instrument time, 21 hours of flight simulator time, and 25 hours of night flight time. Most of the recorded flight time consisted of VFR cross-country operations. 

The pilot was issued a first-class medical certificate in 2004, and no significant medical issues were identified. The pilot completed a Comprehensive Medical Examination Checklist (CMEC) on September 26, 2023.

The accident airplane met the definition of a Light Sport Aircraft (LSA). As such, the pilot was medically eligible to operate the aircraft using a valid driver's license, provided they complied with the requirements of 14 CFR § 61.53, "Prohibition on operations during medical deficiency," and all other applicable FAA regulations. 

The Utah Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Medical Examiner performed the pilot’s autopsy. His cause of death was multiple blunt force injuries, and his manner of death was accident.

Toxicology testing performed at the FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory detected citalopram, an antidepressant medication, in the pilot's system at 83 ng/mL. The pilot did not hold a current FAA medical certificate, and the FAA had no record of either his use of citalopram or the condition for which it was prescribed. Additionally, he did not report citalopram use or any related medical condition on his most recent BasicMed CMEC, dated September 29, 2021.

Citalopram and metabolite – Citalopram is a prescription medication commonly used to treat depression. N-desmethylcitalopram is a metabolite of citalopram. Studies of citalopram have not established that it causes significant cognitive or psychomotor impairment. However, citalopram may carry a warning that any psychoactive drug may impair judgment, thinking, or motor skills, and that users should be cautioned about operating hazardous machinery, including motor vehicles, until they are reasonably certain that citalopram does not affect their ability to engage in such activities. Additionally, major depression can cause cognitive impairment, particularly of executive function. A pilot on citalopram (not in combination with other psychiatric drugs) may be considered for FAA medical certification via Special Issuance, depending on evaluation of the individual pilot’s condition and response to treatment.

Other detected drugs – Metoprolol is a prescription medication that can be used as part of treatment for high blood pressure, certain arrhythmias, and certain types of heart failure. Desethyl sacubitril is the active metabolite of sacubitril. Sacubitril and valsartan are available as a prescription combination medication product that can be used to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death and hospitalization in patients with chronic heart failure. Pitavastatin is a prescription medication that can be used to help control cholesterol and reduce cardiovascular risk. Metoprolol, sacubitril/valsartan, and pitavastatin are not typically impairing and were medications reported by the pilot on his 2021 CMEC.