CHICO, CA, USA
N45DH
WARREN-THOMAS BD-5J
THE CERTIFICATED AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT, WAS NEARING COMPLETION OF AN AEROBATICS DEMONSTRATION FLIGHT AT AN AIR SHOW. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE PILOT PERFORM A 'SPLIT S' MANEUVER, DURING WHICH TIME THE EXPERIMENTAL MICRO JET WAS ROLLED INVERTED TO A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED FROM THE ENTRY PORTION OF THE MANEUVER IN A WINGS LEVEL DIVE TO ABOUT A 60 TO 70 DEGREE NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE UNTIL COLLIDING WITH THE GROUND. A VIDEO TAPE TAKEN BY A SPECTATOR SHOWS THAT THE AIRPLANE'S ATTITUDE DID NOT CHANGE PRIOR TO IMPACT. THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS FOUND.
THE PILOT MISJUDGED THE AEROBATIC MANEUVER RECOVERY ALTITUDE.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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