Loss of Control in Flight · NTSB NYC08LA281
Roberto P. Garcia Nieuport 24bis — Rhinebeck, NY
| Date | August 17, 2008 |
| Location | Rhinebeck, NY |
| Aircraft | Roberto P. Garcia Nieuport 24bis (amateur-built) |
| Purpose of flight | Air Race/Show |
| Conditions | Day · Visual Meteorological Cond |
| Phase / occurrence | Uncontrolled descent Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) |
| Pilot age | 46 |
| Pilot total time | 3,881 hrs · High time |
| Time in type | 5 hrs |
| Fatalities | 1 |
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane while maneuvering, resulting in an aerodynamic stall and spin.
NTSB findings
- Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
- Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Angle of attack-Capability exceeded - C
What happened
The accident flight was a two-airplane aerial demonstration of World War I vintage aircraft simulating a "dogfight," with the entire flight conducted at an altitude about 300 feet above ground level. While maneuvering with the other airplane, the accident airplane entered a "3 turn spin to the left" before it impacted trees and terrain. The wreckage was consumed in a postimpact fire. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures. The airline-transport-rated pilot had over 3,800 total hours of flight experience and had logged about 5 hours of flight experience in the accident airplane make and model.