What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Aircraft stalled, collided with trees and ground. Pilot had neither permission to fly or formal training in aircraf (-23) on December 6, 1997, at approximately 09:07 central standard time, an experimental home built challenger ii airplane, N11644, built by john simpson, collided with the ground in Rainbow City, Alabama. The airplane was being operated under title 14 CFR part 91 by bruce diener, a non FAA certificated person, who was fatally injured, and the aircraft was destroyed. The aircraft co-owner, john simpson, stated that bruce diener ahd shown in the past that he could not control their jointly owned aircraft. Mr. Simpson stated that bruce diener purchased the aircraft in June of 1995 from tom hill of barnstormers inc., elmore, AL. Mr. Simpson also stated that he and Dr. Diener agreed to become partners in the aircraft, and each would get their pilot's license, but when Dr. Bruce diener failed to get his pilot's licenseas agreed, and damaged the aircraft, they agreed to sell it. (.4)witnesses stated that the airplane appeared over the tops of the trees, flying towards them. The witnesses saw the airplane gain altitude, then stall into the trees, and nose dive into the ground. The pilot had about 5 hours of flight training in another airplane. According to the co-owner of the airplane, the non-certificated pilot had no formal training in the airplane.
As the FAA filed it
AIRCRAFT STALLED, COLLIDED WITH TREES AND GROUND. PILOT HAD NEITHER PERMISSION TO FLY OR FORMAL TRAINING IN AIRCRAF (-23) ON DECEMBER 6, 1997, AT APPROXIMATELY 09:07 CENTRAL STANDARD TIME, AN EXPERIMENTAL HOME BUILT CHALLENGER II AIRPLANE, N11644, BUILT BY JOHN SIMPSON, COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND IN RAINBOW CITY, ALABAMA. THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING OPERATED UNDER TITLE 14 CFR PART 91 BY BRUCE DIENER, A NON FAA CERTIFICATED PERSON, WHO WAS FATALLY INJURED, AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED. THE AIRCRAFT CO-OWNER, JOHN SIMPSON, STATED THAT BRUCE DIENER AHD SHOWN IN THE PAST THAT HE COULD NOT CONTROL THEIR JOINTLY OWNED AIRCRAFT. MR. SIMPSON STATED THAT BRUCE DIENER PURCHASED THE AIRCRAFT IN JUNE OF 1995 FROM TOM HILL OF BARNSTORMERS INC., ELMORE, AL. MR. SIMPSON ALSO STATED THAT HE AND DR. DIENER AGREED TO BECOME PARTNERS IN THE AIRCRAFT, AND EACH WOULD GET THEIR PILOT'S LICENSE, BUT WHEN DR. BRUCE DIENER FAILED TO GET HIS PILOT'S LICENSEAS AGREED, AND DAMAGED THE AIRCRAFT, THEY AGREED TO SELL IT. (.4)WITNESSES STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE APPEARED OVER THE TOPS OF THE TREES, FLYING TOWARDS THEM. THE WITNESSES SAW THE AIRPLANE GAIN ALTITUDE, THEN STALL INTO THE TREES, AND NOSE DIVE INTO THE GROUND. THE PILOT HAD ABOUT 5 HOURS OF FLIGHT TRAINING IN ANOTHER AIRPLANE. ACCORDING TO THE CO-OWNER OF THE AIRPLANE, THE NON-CERTIFICATED PILOT HAD NO FORMAL TRAINING IN THE AIRPLANE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.