Pilot Debrief

CHRISTEN INDUSTRIES INC PITTS S-2B near Cameron, MO — 2015-06-27

Final reportCEN15FA282
Sign in to save
Date
2015-06-27
Location
Cameron, MO, USA
Airport
EZZ
Aircraft
CHRISTEN INDUSTRIES INC PITTS S-2B
Registration
N877UP
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1
Phase of flight
Maneuvering

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during a low-level aerobatic flight maneuver.

NTSB narrative

The pilot was performing a series of aerobatic flight maneuvers at a low altitude during an airshow. Another airshow pilot, who was familiar with the accident pilot's airshow routine, reported that the accident pilot intended to do a 45-degree knife-edge climb, perform a "Lomcevak" maneuver, and then continue the knife-edge climb. Video recordings taken by persons on the ground showed the airplane in a knife-edge climb. The pilot then entered the Lomcevak maneuver by performing a climbing snap-roll to the left. The airplane pitched nose-down and tumbled two times to the left while descending. Rather than returning to the knife-edge climb, the airplane instead entered a left spin and completed about two and a half revolutions before it impacted the terrain. The video recordings indicated that the engine was operating throughout the flight to ground impact. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. A review of medical, pathological, and toxicological information revealed no evidence of any medical condition or substance that would have contributed to the pilot's loss of control during performance of aerobatic maneuvers.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted the Lomcevak maneuver before losing control.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 15 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents15

Related mishaps