NTSB Identification: ERA12FA280
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, April 14, 2012 in Hudson, KY
Aircraft: MANZITTO MICHAEL A MWLANCAIR 235, registration: N235MW
Injuries: 1 Fatal.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors.
Any
errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been
completed.

On April 14, 2012, about 1330 central daylight time, an experimental,
amateur-built
Lancair 235, N235MW was substantially damaged during a forced landing near
Hudson,
Kentucky. The certificated private pilot was fatally injured. Visual
meteorological
conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the Title 14 Code of
Federal
Regulations Part 91 personal flight, which departed from Rough River State
Park
Airport (2I3), Falls of Rough, Kentucky, destined for Bowman Field Airport
(LOU),
Louisville, Kentucky.

According to a pilot who was a friend of the accident pilot, the pilot of
the
accident airplane flew from LOU to 2I3 the morning of the accident to have
breakfast
with some fellow pilots. He was having electrical issues, so he removed the
battery
from his airplane and returned to LOU with another pilot.

Once back at LOU the pilot lent him a battery charger. The pilot of the
accident
airplane then charged up two batteries and rode back to 2I3 in his friend's
airplane.

The pilot of the accident airplane then installed one of the batteries in
his
airplane and stated that if he could get it started, he would fly it back to
LOU with
the landing gear down. His plan, if the radios and electrical system did not
work,
was for him and his friend to return as a flight of two to LOU.

The pilot of the accident airplane tried three times to start the airplane
before it
finally started. He then waved and gave a "thumbs up" to his friend. After
taxing to
the runway the pilot stopped the airplane for 6 to 7 seconds and then took
off.

His friend then took off, 3 to 4 minutes behind him, and when climbing
through 1,700
feet above mean sea level, heard the pilot of the accident airplane ask over
the
radio if he was still on the frequency. His friend stated that he knew due
to the
accident pilot's regular phraseology that something was wrong and advised
him that he
was coming. They were talking on the Unicom frequency for 2I3 and the
accident pilot
was using a handheld radio rather than the aircraft radios.

The accident pilot stated that he was 1 to 2 miles south of Breckinridge
County
Airport (I93), Hardinsburg, Kentucky and was going to land in a field. His
friend
responded “I’m coming as fast as I can”. The pilot of the accident airplane
then
stated “I’m going in hard”. His friend could hear the emergency locator
transmitter
transmitting. He then circled the area a few times but could not see the
accident
pilot or airplane, so he landed at I93 and called 911.

According to a witness, just prior to the accident, he observed the airplane
traveling southeast in a straight line. It then disappeared behind a rise in
the
terrain and then reappeared. The airplane then climbed about 100 feet,
turned right
missing a barn, and then disappeared once again behind a rise in the
terrain. Moments
later he heard the sound of an impact.

Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane came to rest in
a corn
field where the corn had already been harvested. After striking the ground
in a level
attitude the airplane traveled approximately 63 feet before nosing over and
coming to
rest.

Examination of the engine revealed no evidence of any preimpact malfunctions
or
anomalies.

Examination of the electrical system revealed however, that the airplane's
battery
exhibited evidence of outgassing from the side and top of the case and the
inside of
the battery box exhibited chemical and soot staining.

The battery, battery box, and portions of the airplane's electrical system
were
retained by the NTSB for further examination.

******************************************************************

Nuff said.
C. Smith

Okay......so.......was this a Lancair with an electric motor for propulsion,
or an
automotive conversion, or an aircraft engine without magnetos?  Help me out
C. why
did a flyable airplane crash, especially when the pilot states "I'm going in
hard",
what am I missing? The accident pilot doesn't communicate he has become
incapacitated.  He's flying an airplane that has lost battery power.

Terry

Sounds like he had a battery fire....  and in that airplane the battery is
located behind the seats
Larry

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