[chris]

An amateur-built RV-12 single-engine airplane, registration N543GM, crashed near Climax, North Carolina, on April 11, 2023. The airplane was destroyed.

Two people were aboard. One was killed and one was seriously injured.

The crash was caused by the airplane owner/builder's inappropriate use of a lower grade fuel than required by the airplane and engine operations manual. The fuel led to engine detonation and degradation, then eventual obliteration, of the No. 1 and No. 2 cylinder spark plug electrode tips.

Contributing to the outcome was the pilots' decision to continue flight at low altitude after a partial loss of engine power instead of making an immediate precautionary landing, which resulted in a collision with an overpass and terrain.