19960531012239A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Amtr DSA-1-G · Astoria, IL · May 31, 1996

Date: May 31, 1996 · 09:15 local
Place: Astoria, IL
Phase of flight: Descent
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N611SU
NTSB investigation: NTSBCHI96LA188
Reported as: Amtr DSA1G
Reported engine: Continental C8512
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 1
Pilot’s flight hours: 987 total24 in this make and model22 in the last 90 days

N611SURegistration cancelled Apr 22, 2002 · Gray Miniplane DSA-1-GS/N 43 · Built 1966 Airframe modelGray Miniplane DSA-1-G Engine modelContinental C85 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(.4)Witnesses reported seeing the pilot performing aerobatic maneuvers prior to the accident. They stated the pilot was performing a loop when he got too close to the ground during the maneuver. The airplane impacted the terrain near a treeline which surrounded the open field over which the maneuvers were being performed. (-23) witnesses stated the aircraft had been conducting low level aerobatics for approximately ten minutes. While attempting to complete a loop started at approximately 75 feet AGL, the aircraft struck terrain.

As the FAA filed it

(.4)WITNESSES REPORTED SEEING THE PILOT PERFORMING AEROBATIC MANEUVERS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THEY STATED THE PILOT WAS PERFORMING A LOOP WHEN HE GOT TOO CLOSE TO THE GROUND DURING THE MANEUVER. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE TERRAIN NEAR A TREELINE WHICH SURROUNDED THE OPEN FIELD OVER WHICH THE MANEUVERS WERE BEING PERFORMED. (-23) WITNESSES STATED THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN CONDUCTING LOW LEVEL AEROBATICS FOR APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO COMPLETE A LOOP STARTED AT APPROXIMATELY 75 FEET AGL, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK TERRAIN.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB CHI96LA188Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportAstoria, ILthe pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the terrain while performing an aerobatic maneuver.May 31, 1996 · Substantial damage