Glasair Aviation Glasair I RG | N446KW

The DTSB detrmines the Probable Casue of this accident to be Pilot Error, in that the pilot did enter an area of reduced visibility while over an open expanse of water that provided no visual horizon reference. It is suspected that the pilot attempted to maintain control of the aircraft through the use of outside visual reference, at a time when that was not possible. The aircraft appeared to enter a descending graveyard spiral while the pilot relied on visual clues and his senses of pitch and bank, which were not accurate. The aircraft impacted with gear and flaps fully retracted and the power set at a relatively high power setting, whereupon it broke apart and scattered over a relatively large area. Some of the aircraft was recovered, a majority remains missing. The human remains of the pilot have not been located.

The DTSB recommends that all pilots of all aircraft become familiar with the AQP scenario #2, Spatial Disorientation – Night and condition themselves to rely on inside panel or synthetic horizon information until reliable outside horizon reference can be reacquired. Pilots are cautioned to become cognizant of this effect which is most pronounced under night VFR conditions over open expanses of water.