Low-Altitude Maneuvering · NTSB CEN13LA368
NANCHANG CHINA CJ-6 — Wolcott, CO
| Date | June 23, 2013 |
| Location | Wolcott, CO |
| Aircraft | NANCHANG CHINA CJ-6 |
| Purpose of flight | Personal |
| Conditions | Day · Visual Meteorological Cond |
| Phase / occurrence | Maneuvering-low-alt flying Low altitude operation/event |
| Pilot age | 70 |
| Pilot total time | 1,200 hrs · Experienced |
| Time in type | 120 hrs |
| Fatalities | 2 |
Probable cause
The pilots decision to perform an aerobatic maneuver at a low altitude from which he was unable to recover.
NTSB findings
- Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Incorrect action selection-Pilot - C
- Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Decision making/judgment-Pilot - C
- Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-(general)-Not attained/maintained - C
What happened
The pilot flew his experimental, exhibition, high-performance airplane over friends' houses. One witness indicated the pilot flew the airplane low enough to be identified. The pilot performed a second flyby of the houses. Another witness indicated that the airplane subsequently flew south and then climbed in a counterclockwise rotation. The airplane then attempted to "go upside down" and fly to the west. It subsequently impacted terrain following the low-level acrobatic maneuver. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any preimpact anomalies.