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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

July 8, 1989 · Beech A45 · N7973A

Troy, AL

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 8, 1989
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Location
Troy, AL
Aircraft
Beech A45
Tail Number
N7973A
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
ATL89FA175

The accident airplane was the 2nd of 5 similar models performing a low-level flyby over the runway. Witnesses reported that the airplane climbed and attempted to perform an aileron roll to the left shortly after the 1st airplane had successfully performed the maneuver. A videotape recording of the accident revealed that the roll rate slowed and the nose began to drop as the airplane rolled inverted. The airplane began a diving turn to the right, and subsequently crashed off to the right side of the runway. The wreckage examination revealed no evidence of any pre-existing mechanical malfunction or failure. A relative of the pilot reported that the pilot did not have much aerobatic experience and did not like to perform aerobatics. Examination of the pilot's logbook for the preceding year revealed no logged aerobatic experience. A fly-in was in progress at the airport when the mishap occurred. According to the fly-in organizer, no aerial demonstrations were planned.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE AIRPLANE FLIGHT CONTROLS DURING A AEROBATIC MANEUVER AT LOW ALTITUDE DUE TO HIS LACK OF AEROBATIC EXPERIENCE. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S OVERCONFIDENCE IN HIS ABILITY TO PERFORM THE MANEUVER.

Full Narrative

THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE WAS THE 2ND OF 5 SIMILAR MODELS PERFORMING A LOW-LEVEL FLYBY OVER THE RWY. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE CLIMBED AND ATTEMPTED TO PERFORM AN AILERON ROLL TO THE LEFT SHORTLY AFTER THE 1ST AIRPLANE HAD SUCCESSFULLY PERFORMED THE MANEUVER. A VIDEOTAPE RECORDING OF THE ACCIDENT REVEALED THAT THE ROLL RATED SLOWED AND THE NOSE BEGAN TO DROP AS THE AIRPLANE ROLLED INVERTED. THE AIRPLANE BEGAN A DIVING TURN TO THE RIGHT, AND SUBSEQUENTLY CRASHED OFF TO THE RT SIDE OF THE RWY. THE WRECKAGE EXAM REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF ANY PRE-EXISTING MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE. A RELATIVE OF THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE PLT DID NOT HAVE MUCH AEROBATIC EXPERIENCE AND DID NOT LIKE TO PERFORM AEROBATICS. EXAMINATION OF THE PILOT'S LOGBOOK FOR THE PRECEDING YEAR REVEALED NO LOGGED AEROBATIC EXPERIENCE. A FLY-IN WAS IN PROGRESS AT THE ARPT WHEN THE MISHAP OCCURRED. ACCORDING TO THE FLY-IN ORGANIZER, NO AERIAL DEMONSTRATIONS WERE PLANNED.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time10:55 CDT
Nearest AirportTroy Municipal (0nm N)
Runway14
Runway Length4999 ft
Runway Width10 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBeech A45
Tail NumberN7973A
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · IO-520-BB · Reciprocating · 285
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Fatal2
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 54 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind210° @ 5 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingNone
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time15:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data