RV-12 Went Down In Florida, Pilot Fatally Injured

The pilot of a Van's RV-12 that went down in Bonita Springs, FL January 22 issued a "Mayday" call before the aircraft impacted terrain, according to the NTSB's preliminary report on the accident.

According to the report, the pilot held a sport pilot certificate and was flying the SLSA aircraft which was registered to a corporation. He was fatally injured in the accident. Day, visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight. The flight originated at Page Field (KFMY), Fort Myers, Florida about 1200 and was destined for Everglades Airpark (X01), Everglades City, Florida.

According to preliminary air traffic control (ATC) voice communication and radar data obtained from the FAA, the flight was en route from KFMY to X01. The pilot was receiving flight following services from ATC. While on a southeasterly heading and at 2,500 ft mean sea level, the pilot was advised of traffic in his vicinity. The pilot acknowledged, and shortly after this transmission he stated, "mayday, mayday." No additional calls were received from the pilot and radar and radio contact were lost.

The airplane went down in a forested area, about 18 nautical miles southeast of KFMY. There was no fire. The wreckage path was oriented south-southwest and was about 750 ft in length. All components of the airplane were accounted for at the accident site. Flight control continuity was confirmed from all flight control surfaces to the cockpit controls.

The pilot held a sport pilot certificate with an airplane single engine land rating. According to the FAA, he did not possess an FAA medical certificate, nor was one required to operate as a sport pilot.

The low-wing, single-engine, two-seat airplane incorporated a fixed, tricycle landing gear. The airplane was equipped with a Rotax 912-ULS 100-horsepower reciprocating engine. The engine was fitted with a Sensenich fixed-pitch composite propeller. The airplane was built in 2011. According to the airplane maintenance records, a condition inspection was completed on July 24, 2016, at 95 hours total time.

(Source: NTSB. Image from file. Not accident airplane)

FMI: app.ntsb.gov/pdfgenerator/ReportGeneratorFile.ashx?EventID=20180122X32841&AKey=1&RType=HTML&IType=FA