TIMOTHY J COWPER PITTS SPECIAL S-1E — Edinburg, NY, 2013

TIMOTHY J COWPER PITTS SPECIAL S-1E — Edinburg, NY

1 fatal

Date	September 29, 2013
Location	Edinburg, NY
Aircraft	TIMOTHY J COWPER PITTS SPECIAL S-1E (amateur-built)
Purpose of flight	Personal
Conditions	Day · Visual Meteorological Cond
Phase / occurrence	Uncontrolled descent Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)
Pilot age	55
Pilot total time	460 hrs · Building experience
Time in type	Unknown
Fatalities	1

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed during low-altitude maneuvering, which resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical angle-of-attack and experiencing an aerodynamic stall.

NTSB findings

Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Airspeed-Not attained/maintained - C
Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Angle of attack-Not attained/maintained - C

What happened

Witnesses reported that they observed the airplane maneuvering at low altitude after it departed from the airport. One witness recalled hearing normal engine noise followed by an increase in engine speed. When he looked in the direction of the airplane, he observed it in a nose-down bank. The airplane then disappeared behind a tree line and crashed. The wreckage was found in a wooded area about 1/2 mile south-southwest of the airport. The wreckage was confined to one area with no discernible linear wreckage path noted, which was consistent with an aerodynamic stall and loss of control. Most of the wreckage was consumed in a postcrash fire. Flight control continuity was established from the flight control surfaces to the cockpit. Examination of the airframe and engine revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

An editorial "what led to it / how to avoid it" analysis for this accident is generated separately and will appear here.