AKRON, AL, USA
N3RN
NEAL CHRISTEN EAGLE II
WITNESSES RPRTD THAT BEFORE THE ACDNT, THE ACFT WAS BETWEEN 400 & 1000 FT AGL IN STRAIGHT & LEVEL FLIGHT. IT WAS OBSERVED TO ENTER A ROLL TO THE RIGHT. AFTER ROLLING INVERTED, THE ACFT ENTERED A SPIN. THE ENG WAS HEARD TO REV UP AS THE ACFT CONTINUED INTO A FLAT SPIN. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN & WAS DESTROYED. THE FLT MANUAL STATED THAT AEROBATIC FLT WAS NOT TO BE PERFORMED BELOW 1500 FT AGL; A MIN ALT OF 3000 FT TO 5000 FT AGL WAS RECOMMENDED FOR AEROBATIC FLT. THE PLT HAD ONLY ABOUT 14 HRS IN THIS MAKE/MODEL OF ACFT. THE BAGGAGE COMPARTMENT CONTAINED A PARACHUTE CANOPY, THOUGH IT WAS TO BE EMPTY FOR AEROBATIC FLT.
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND TO RECOVER FROM (OR AVOID) A SUBSEQUENT (FLAT) SPIN. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW ESTABLISHED PROCEDURES, HIS LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE AIRCRAFT, AND THE LACK OF SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO RECOVER FROM THE SPIN.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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