TROY, AL, USA
N7973A
BEECH A45
THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE WAS THE 2ND OF 5 SIMILAR MODELS PERFORMING A LOW-LEVEL FLYBY OVER THE RWY. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE CLIMBED AND ATTEMPTED TO PERFORM AN AILERON ROLL TO THE LEFT SHORTLY AFTER THE 1ST AIRPLANE HAD SUCCESSFULLY PERFORMED THE MANEUVER. A VIDEOTAPE RECORDING OF THE ACCIDENT REVEALED THAT THE ROLL RATED SLOWED AND THE NOSE BEGAN TO DROP AS THE AIRPLANE ROLLED INVERTED. THE AIRPLANE BEGAN A DIVING TURN TO THE RIGHT, AND SUBSEQUENTLY CRASHED OFF TO THE RT SIDE OF THE RWY. THE WRECKAGE EXAM REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF ANY PRE-EXISTING MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE. A RELATIVE OF THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE PLT DID NOT HAVE MUCH AEROBATIC EXPERIENCE AND DID NOT LIKE TO PERFORM AEROBATICS. EXAMINATION OF THE PILOT'S LOGBOOK FOR THE PRECEDING YEAR REVEALED NO LOGGED AEROBATIC EXPERIENCE. A FLY-IN WAS IN PROGRESS AT THE ARPT WHEN THE MISHAP OCCURRED. ACCORDING TO THE FLY-IN ORGANIZER, NO AERIAL DEMONSTRATIONS WERE PLANNED.
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE AIRPLANE FLIGHT CONTROLS DURING A AEROBATIC MANEUVER AT LOW ALTITUDE DUE TO HIS LACK OF AEROBATIC EXPERIENCE. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S OVERCONFIDENCE IN HIS ABILITY TO PERFORM THE MANEUVER.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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