ROSWELL, NM, USA
N233RK
CANADAIR CT-133
ACFT WAS ON PROMOTIONAL FLIGHT FOR MEDIA PERSONNEL THE DAY BEFORE 'SPECTACULAR AIR SHOW' WAS SCHEDULED TO OPEN. PAX WAS LOCAL RADIO STATION MANAGER AND NEWLY RATED PRIVATE PLT, WHO TOLD GROUND CREW HE HOPED THE PILOT WOULD DEMONSTRATE AEROBATICS. WITNESSES SAW ACFT PERFORMING AEROBATICS 7 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF. ACFT IMPACTED DESERT TERRAIN AND EXPLODED. BOTH TIP TANKS, OUTBOARD WING PANELS, AND AILERONS WERE FOUND APPROXIMATELY 1-1/4 MILE FROM MAIN IMPACT AREA. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION DISCLOSED CATASTROPHIC WING SPAR FAILURE DUE TO NEGATIVE BENDING OVERLOAD. THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF AT LEAST ONE OVER-TRAVEL UP AND ONE OVER-TRAVEL DOWN OF BOTH AILERONS. NO PRE-EXISTING OR FATIGUE CRACKS, OR EVIDENCE OF AILERON FLUTTER WAS FOUND.
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S PERFORMANCE OF AEROBATIC MANEUVERS THAT EXCEEDED THE DESIGN STRESS LIMITS OF THE AIRCRAFT, RESULTING IN CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE WING.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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