MARTHA VINEYARD, MA, USA
N5060K
BELLANCA 8GCBC
THE PLT WAS INVOLVED IN COMMERICAL FISHING OPERATIONS AS A SPOTTER AND TO DIRECT THE CLOSING OF NETS AROUND SCHOOLS OF TUNA. WHILE DIRECTING THE CLOSING OF A NET, THE FISH BEING NETTED REVERSED COURSE AND STARTED TO ESCAPE FROM THE OPEN NET. THE PLT DOVE AT A STEEP ANGLE TOWARD THE WATER IN FRONT OF THE SCHOOL, APPARENTLY IN AN ATTEMPT TO TURN THE FISH BACK INTO THE NET. THE ACFT DESCENDED VERY LOW THEN PULLED UP ABRUPTLY. WITNESSES HEARD A LOUD CRACK AS THE ACFT BEGAN TO CLIMB, OBSERVED THE LEFT WING TO COLLAPSE REARWARD, AND THE ACFT TO SPIN INTO THE OCEAN. THE WITNESSES DID NOT SEE THE ACFT CONTACT THE WATER BEFORE HEARING THE CRACK AND OBSERVING THE DMGD WING. NEITHER THE WRECKAGE NOR THE PILOT'S BODY WERE RECOVERED. FISH SPOTTING IS NORMALLY CONDUCTED AT OR ABOVE 1000 FT AGL.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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