The crash of a light sport aircraft on Kauai that killed two people last year was likely due to pilot error and an inadvertent application of the aircraft’s choke, according to a probable-cause report issued by the National Transportation Safety Board.
On Feb. 15, 2011, pilot Jim Gaither of Big Sky Kauai and passenger Kim Buergel of Spokane, Wash., were killed when the powered glider Gaither was piloting crashed into the ocean off Kalaheo. Witnesses reported seeing the aircraft flying low over a field that sloped toward the ocean, dropping to a level of 50 feet above the water, pitching upward and then falling to the ocean. Witnesses said they heard the aircraft’s engine sputter and "fire back up" as it descended toward the water the first time.
The probable-cause report, completed May 3, said that the engine’s choke lever, located on the left side of the tandem seat frame and accessible to both occupants, was found in the "on" position during the crash investigation.
"The physical evidence and witness observations suggest that the choke was inadvertently activated, and, after the ensuing momentary interruption in engine power, the flight instructor lost control of the aircraft while maneuvering at a low altitude," the report stated. "It could not be determined whether the choke was activated by the student or the flight instructor."
The NTSB also released last week a "factual" statement regarding the fatal crash of another light sport aircraft in Hanalei on May 17, 2011.
The crash near Honopu Beach in Na Pali Coast State Park killed pilot Steve Sprague of Kauai Aerosports and Vista, Calif., resident Ray Foreman.
Witnesses reported seeing the aircraft climb steeply, initiate a steep left-hand turn, then descend. One witness reported that as the aircraft was descending, the aircraft’s wing started shaking. The witness said he heard a loud pop before the right wing’s fabric went slack, causing the aircraft to roll and eventually crash.
According to the report, a manufacturer’s representative indicated that Sprague had contacted him to purchase a new wing.
An inspection of the aircraft after the crash found patched areas on both the left and right wings.
Foreman’s widow has filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against the flight company, the aircraft manufacturer and others. The suit contends that Sprague did not disclose his history of air accidents and that defective equipment prevented the occupants from freeing themselves from the wreckage in the ocean.
So-called weight-shift aircraft like those involved in the two accidents cannot legally be used for tours. However, they can be used for flight instruction purposes. Some local companies advertise commercial flights with a licensed pilot as flight training.
In the factual statement on the Hanalei crash, the NTSB said, "A review of the video documents that the student never touched the flight controls, nor were there any flight activities which suggested flight training."
