Amateur-built ACRO SPORT II N43032 accident near Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania

Probable cause

The pilot's decision to conduct low altitude aerobatic maneuvers which resulted in an exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack while maneuvering at a low altitude, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

NTSB analysis

The pilot had purchased the experimental, amateur-built airplane about 3 weeks before the accident. The airplane was partially disassembled, transported to an airport, and then reassembled. The pilot flew the airplane for the first time 2 days before the accident.

The pilot and a pilot-rated passenger departed for the pilot’s second flight in the airplane. A witness at the airport stated that he spoke to the pilot before he took off on the accident flight and that the pilot stated that he was going to fly his new airplane. The witness watched the airplane take off from runway 27, make a circle, and conduct a high-speed fly-by over runway 9 about 150 ft above ground level (agl). The witness reported the engine was running at "full throttle." When over the end of the runway, the airplane climbed straight up to about 500-600 ft agl. The witness then saw the airplane "stall"; the left wing rolled over, and the airplane made about two or three spirals before impacting the ground. The maneuvering described by the witness was consistent with the pilot performing intentional, low altitude acrobatic maneuvers that resulted in a stall/spin, and loss of control.

Postaccident examination of the engine and airframe revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA19FA243 for the full record.