The light sport aircraft was substantially damaged at about 1010 Eastern time when it impacted the ground during an emergency landing. The commercial pilot was fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
The airplane is designed to fold both wings back to facilitate storage and transportation. In addition, both wings and the horizontal stabilizer were removable. The respective control push-pull rods for the left and right ailerons, and elevator featured a “quick-fastener” to disconnect and reconnect the respective flight control. According to witnesses, the airplane was disassembled and stored for the winter. It was reassembled during April 2012. The pilot, who also was an A&P, completed a condition inspection on June 1, 2012. A ballistic parachute system was installed on June 12, 2012.
