On January 15, 2010, about 1450 central standard time, an experimental, amateur-built RV-4, N107SS, was substantially damaged when it impacted trees and terrain near Picayune, Mississippi. The certificated private pilot/owner and the passenger were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight, which originated at Mint Julep Airpark (5MS5), Picayune, Mississippi, about 1445. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
During an interview with a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, an acquaintance of the pilot stated that he and the pilot were working on their airplanes at the pilot's home. The pilot was attempting to fix the accident airplane's autopilot, which was experiencing a "power flicker" inflight that he was not able to duplicate on the ground. After replacing a ground wire, the pilot reassembled the airplane and prepared the airplane for a test flight.
About 1445, the pilot and the passenger boarded the accident airplane, the engine started, and the airplane taxied out and departed to the north. The acquaintance described the takeoff as "normal," and that it was the last time he saw the accident airplane.
A witness, who was standing about 1/4 mile northwest of the runway, saw the airplane shortly after it departed. He noticed that the airplane was low, and that it appeared that it was "about to do some tricks." The airplane rolled to the left and pitched down, then impacted the ground.
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector responded to the accident scene, and examined the wreckage. According to the inspector, the trees in the immediate vicinity of the wreckage appeared largely undisturbed. The inspector noted that the branches all appeared to be broken vertically, and noted several vertical scratches on the tree trunks. The airplane came to rest in a slight nose down attitude, with the left wing displaced aft and the right wing displaced forward in relation to the fuselage. The front attachment point of the left wing and the rear attachment point of the right wing were broken. The empennage was twisted to the left. Control cable continuity was traced from the tail and left aileron to the cockpit area. Both blades of the wooden propeller were broken about 4-inches outboard of the hub, with the remaining pieces of the blades scattered around the scene. There was no post-impact fire, though a strong odor of fuel was present.
An electronic flight instrument system was removed from the wreckage and retained for further testing.
The weather reported at Stennis International Airport (HSA), Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, located 11 nautical miles south, at 1451, included scattered clouds at 3,500 feet, 10 statute miles visibility, winds from 030 degrees at 10 knots, temperature 15 degrees Celsius (C), dewpoint 08 degrees C, and an altimeter setting of 30.05 inches of mercury.