ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 200520
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| Date: | Saturday 21 October 2017 |
| Time: | 16:12 |
| Type: |  Extra EA-300 |
| Owner/operator: | Sky Combat Ace |
| Registration: | N414MT |
| MSN: | 1300 |
| Year of manufacture: | 2009 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 186 hours |
| Engine model: | Lycoming AEIO-580-B1A |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | near El Capitan Reservoir, central San Diego County, CA -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.) |
| Nature: | Training |
| Departure airport: | San Diego-Gillespie Field, CA (SEE/KSEE) |
| San Diego-Gillespie Field, CA (SEE/KSEE) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The commercial pilot and passenger departed in the aerobatic airplane to an area established by the operator for accomplishing aerobatic maneuvers. Although operating as a flight training company, the operator described itself as an "extreme aviation attraction," providing a series of aviation-related experiences that included aerobatics, simulated air combat, and flight training, during which passengers had the opportunity to fly the airplane. The accident flight was a 25-minute-long "Top Gun" experience, which incorporated aerobatics, high-g maneuvers, and a low-level bombing run simulation.
Radar data revealed that the airplane flew to the standard practice area while performing the maneuvers. About that time, witnesses observed the airplane performing aerobatic maneuvers, then watched the airplane descend to the ground. One witness stated that he could see the airplane spiraling down behind a ridge. Another, who was closer to the accident site, stated that the airplane appeared to be descending at a rapid rate. He then heard popping sounds as the airplane passed behind a ridge and impacted the ground. Another witness, who was familiar with the aerobatic operations in the area, stated that the airplane appeared to be flying more aggressively than usual.
An accurate analysis of the final stages of the flight could not be derived due to the sample rate of the radar data relative to the airplane's rapid aerobatic movements.
An aft-facing onboard camera, mounted in front of the passenger was recording throughout the entire flight. The video revealed that the airplane was performing aerobatic maneuvers for about 7 minutes with both the pilot and passenger manipulating the controls. After the pilot completed a tumble maneuver, the airplane began to regain altitude. The passenger then moved his hands away from the flight controls and appeared to be bracing his arms against the sides of the airframe in anticipation for an aerobatic maneuver. The airplane then pitched up and rolled right, and then rolled left while the pilot made a "whooping" sound, as the airplane transitioned into an inverted spin. The passenger experienced negative g forces and reached up with his right arm up to secure the headphones that were pulling away from his head. The maneuver progressed, and its direction of rotation then reversed, until the airplane transitioned into an attitude such that only the sky was visible in the canopy.
The wind noise began to increase, and a gap began to appear at the interface between the canopy frame and fuselage, indicating that the airplane was approaching its never exceed speed. The passenger then began to aggressively be rocked from side to side; however, the sun could be seen gradually transitioning across the canopy, indicating the airplane was no longer tumbling and its attitude had stabilized. Up until this point, the passenger appeared to be enjoying the flight, but his facial expression changed, and he looked down and reached forward with his right hand. At that moment, the pilot activated the canopy release handle and the canopy opened. The camera was ejected, and continued to record as it descended to the ground, capturing the airplane collide with terrain 6 seconds later.
The violent rocking movement experienced by the passenger in the final seconds did not correspond to the gradual movement of the sun in the canopy, and was likely a result of the pilot applying rapid control inputs, possibly to the rudder, in an attempt to regain airplane control. The pilot released the canopy very shortly after the rocking movements began, so it is likely that he quickly deduced that recovery was not possible and that a bailout was necessary. The collision with terrain happened so fast after canopy release that a successful bailout was unlikely. Both occupants' seat belts were found in the latched and locked positions, further indicating that they did not have enough time to egress the airplane. Likewise, both occupants were wearing parachutes, neither of which had been deployed.
Probable Cause: Collision with terrain after the pilot was unable to regain airplane control during an aerobatic maneuver. Contributing to the accident was the operator's failure to provide effective internal oversight to identify and prohibit exceedance of the airplanes' performance parameters, and the lack of regulatory framework available to oversee and regulate such flight operations.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB
FAA register: http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=414MT
http://aerossurance.com/safety-management/too-extreme-fatal-sca-ea300/
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/N414MT/history/20171021/2258ZZ
Location
Images:
Media:
Too Extreme: Sky Combat Ace's inadequate ops oversight, routine exceedance of EA300 FM limitations and an inadequate regulatory structure for aerobatic ‘experiences’ are highlighted by #NTSB. https://t.co/IAr9VimjDo #flightsafety #aviationsafety #safetyculture #safetyleadership pic.twitter.com/SIcE5mUwSX
— Aerossurance (@Aerossurance) August 29, 2020
Authorities investigate cause of Lakeside-area Extra 300 plane crash, California https://t.co/7joWXLpcw6 pic.twitter.com/HH12VjsunA
— Planes Of Legend (@PlanesOfLegend) 23 octobre 2017
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 22-Oct-2017 09:21 | Iceman 29 | Added |
| 22-Oct-2017 11:32 | Iceman 29 | Updated [Source, Embed code, Narrative, Photo, ] |
| 23-Oct-2017 12:04 | Iceman 29 | Updated [Time, Registration, Cn, Operator, Total occupants, Phase, Departure airport, Source, Embed code, Narrative] |
| 23-Oct-2017 14:32 | gerard57 | Updated [Total fatalities, Total occupants, Source, Narrative] |
| 23-Oct-2017 16:47 | Iceman 29 | Updated [Registration, Source, Embed code, Narrative] |
| 23-Oct-2017 18:34 | Anon. | Updated [Source] |
| 24-Oct-2017 19:09 | Iceman 29 | Updated [Registration, Operator, Source, Embed code, Narrative] |
| 24-Oct-2017 19:10 | Iceman 29 | Updated [Embed code, Narrative] |
| 19-Jul-2020 06:26 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Operator, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Embed code, Narrative, Accident report, ] |
| 19-Jul-2020 06:36 | harro | Updated [Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Embed code, Narrative, Accident report, ] |
| 29-Aug-2020 12:35 | Aerossurance | Updated [Source] |
| 29-Aug-2020 12:55 | Aerossurance | Updated [Embed code] |
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