Amateur-built Tornado II accident near Molino, Florida, February 1, 2002
On February 1, 2002 at about 10:30 pm local time, a amateur-built Tornado II, registered N140V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Molino, Florida (Private Agricultural Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain obstacle clearance, resulting in the in-flight collision with a static wire and an uncontrolled descent and collision with the ground. A factor in the accident was the pilot's impairment resulting from the use of unapproved medication.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 1, 2002 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Molino, Florida · Private Agricultural Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Tornado II
- Registration
- N140V · registry record · serial D99220JCOHK0342
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to witnesses, the powered glider was observed making a low pass down runway 36 of a private, sod agricultural airstrip. The aircraft next entered a left downwind leg for an approach and landing to the runway. While on final approach, the powered glider's undercarriage collided with static wires strung between two power transmission line towers, and the aircraft impacted the ground. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot suffered fatal injuries. It is likely that the pilot was under continuing treatment for his bipolar disorder and sleep disorder at the time of his accident and may have been on two different antidepressants. Mirtazapine is substantially sedating, and interferes with certain skilled performance tasks. In addition, mirtazapine and fluoxetine may interact to cause severe restlessness, confusion, incoordination, abdominal pain, and other symptoms.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 87 hours in all; 44 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 60 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 8, 2001
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 44 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 20, 2000; 44 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912 S (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 83J Beulah FL at 10:10 pm
- Destination: Molino FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,000 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 360° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from PNS, 16 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number MIA02LA058.