Low-Altitude Maneuvering · NTSB ERA19FA243
Poberezny ACRO SPORT II — Jersey Shore, PA
| Date | August 11, 2019 |
| Location | Jersey Shore, PA |
| Aircraft | Poberezny ACRO SPORT II (amateur-built) |
| Purpose of flight | Personal |
| Conditions | Day · Visual Meteorological Cond |
| Phase / occurrence | Maneuvering-low-alt flying Loss of control in flight |
| Pilot age | 40 |
| Pilot total time | 1,400 hrs · Experienced |
| Time in type | Unknown |
| Fatalities | 2 |
Probable cause
NTSB findings
- Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
- Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Decision making/judgment-Pilot
- Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Angle of attack-Capability exceeded
- Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Altitude-Not attained/maintained
What happened
The pilot had purchased the experimental, amateur-built airplane about 3 weeks before the accident. The airplane was partially disassembled, transported to an airport, and then reassembled. The pilot flew the airplane for the first time 2 days before the accident.
The pilot and a pilot-rated passenger departed for the pilot’s second flight in the airplane. A witness at the airport stated that he spoke to the pilot before he took off on the accident flight and that the pilot stated that he was going to fly his new airplane. The witness watched the airplane take off from runway 27, make a circle, and conduct a high-speed fly-by over runway 9 about 150 ft above ground level (agl). The witness reported the engine was running at "full throttle." When over the end of the runway, the airplane climbed straight up to about 500-600 ft agl. The witness then saw the airplane "stall"; the left wing rolled over, and the airplane made about two or three spirals before impacting the ground. The maneuvering described by the witness was consistent with the pilot performing intentional, low altitude acrobatic maneuvers that resulted in a stall/spin, and loss of control.
Postaccident examination of the engine and airframe revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.