N4396HQuicksilver SPORT II · 2008

On June 4, 2012, about 1945 central daylight time, a Quicksilver Sport II, N4396H, impacted terrain while maneuvering over the Manchester Municipal Airport (C27), Manchester, Iowa. The certificated sport pilot was fatally injured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. The aircraft was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which had not been operating on a flight plan. The flight originated from the pilot's private airstrip near Ryan, Iowa, and was en route to C27.

A witness saw the aircraft approach from the south on a northerly heading about 200 feet above the ground. The airplane turned toward the west at the midpoint of the field, which the witness assumed was for a left downwind entry for runway 36. The witness said that the aircraft had flown behind the hangar he was in when he heard it crash.

Another witness stated that the aircraft made a "sharp left bank" and flew over the hangar for about 15-30 seconds prior to the crash.

The aircraft was a 2008 Quicksilver Sport II, serial number 0934, experimental light-sport aircraft, that was registered to the pilot on December 21, 2007. The Application for U.S. Airworthiness Certificate owner's certification and FAA representative certification were dated January 21, 2008, and January 28, 2008, respectively, at a total airframe time of 1.2 hours.

An aircraft logbook entry dated August 15, 2008, states that the aircraft flight test hours were completed. The last aircraft maintenance entry was dated March 22, 2009, which was for a broken ground wire leading from "regulator to frame." The last engine maintenance entry was dated July 27, 2010, which was for the installation of a replacement engine at a tachometer of 88 hours due to a rod bearing failure. Aircraft logbooks indicated that the airplane and engine had never received a condition inspection.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, witnesses reported that the aircraft was maneuvering, and the engine was operating at the time of the accident. The aircraft was located in a corn field about 100 yards west of runway 18/36 in a nose-down position, near vertical attitude. The left wing outer leading edge displayed impact damage and the wing was buckled. Examination of the flight control system confirmed flight control continuity. Engine control continuity was continuity was confirmed. Fuel was present in both carburetor float bowls.

An autopsy of the pilot by the Iowa Department of Public Health, Ankeny Iowa, reported the cause of death as multiple blunt force injuries.

The FAA Final Forensic Toxicology Fatal Accident Report stated: no carbon monoxide detected in blood, no cyanide detected in blood, no ethanol detected in vitreous, no drugs listed were detected in blood.