# Accident 19990529006019A: Grtlks 2T1A2, Painsville, OH, May 29, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 29, 1999, 13:34 local time
- Place: Painsville, OH
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.7207° N, 81.2402° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7207&lon=-81.2402&mi=10
- Aircraft: N275J, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N275J-2000-04-03) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Toman Charles John 2T-1AJ (registry code 05623HX, https://openairdocs.org/model/toman-charles-john-2t-1aj) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRTLKS 2T1A2
- Reported engine: JACOBP R755B2M
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Pilot flight hours: 19,784 total, 98 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC99LA124](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC99LA124) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990529006019A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ACFT DEPARTED TO WEST, REVERSED DIRCTION, AT END OF RWY ENTERED AEROBATIC MANEUVER, ENGINE QUIT WHILE IN MANEUVER, UNABLE TO RECOVER. 2 FATALITIES. (FROM .19) ON MAY 29, 1999, AT 1334 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A HOMEBUILT GREAT LAKES 2T-1AJ, N275J, WAS DESTROYED WHILE MANEUVERING, AFTER TAKEOFF FROM THE OWNER'S PRIVATE AIRSTRIP IN PAINESVILLE, OHIO.  THE CERTIFICATED AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT AND THE PASSENGER WERE FATALLY INJURED.  VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.  NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE FLIGHT BETWEEN PAINESVILLE AND GEAUGA COUNTY AIRPORT (7G8), MIDDLEFIELD, OHIO.  THE PERSONAL FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED UNDER 14 CFR PART 91.  ACCORDING TO A FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION (FAA) INSPECTOR, THE PILOT AND THE PASSENGER HAD MET A DAY EARLIER, AND THE PILOT HAD OFFERED TO TAKE THE PASSENGER AND HIS FAMILY UP FOR AIRPLANE RIDES.  THE PILOT FIRST FLEW THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PASSENGER'S FAMILY IN ANOTHER AIRPLANE, THEN DEPARTED WITH THE PASSENGER IN THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE.  THE AIRPLANE TOOK OFF TOWARD THE WEST, THEN DOUBLED BACK AND MADE A HIGH SPEED PASS, FOLLOWED BY WHAT APPEARED TO BE A ROLL.  SEVERAL WITNESSES STATED THEY HEARD THE ENGINE BAC KFIRE, THEN GO SILENT, THEN REGAIN POWER. THE AIRPLANE DISAPPEARED BELOW A TREE LINE, AND THE WITNESSES THEN HEARD THE SOUND OF THE IMPACT.  AT THE ACCIDENT SITE, THE FAA INSPECTOR FOUND TREE LIMBS CUT IN A DESCENDING PATH, AND THAT THE AIRPLANE'S WOODEN PROPELLER HAD SPLINTERED.  THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL IN THE AREA, AND THE THROTTLE AND MIXTURE WERE FOUND IN THE FULL FORWARD POSITION. (-23) ON 05/29/1999, AT APPROX. 1330 EDT, THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED IN A WESTERLY DIRECTION FROM OWNER'S/PILOT'S PRIVATE SOD AIRFIELD.  A REVERSAL IN DIRECTION WAS EXECUTED, THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED THE AIRSTRIP FROM THE NORTH AT MIDFIELD AT APPROX. 100' AGL.  JUST PAST MIDFILED, AT APPROX. 20' AGL IN AN EASTERLY DIRECTION, A CLIMB WAS INITIATED AND A AILERON ROLL TO THE LEFT FOLLOWED SHORTLY, JUST PAST THE END OF THE AIRSTRIP AT APPROX. 200' AGL.  DURING THE LAST 90 DEGREES OF THE ROLL, DIRECTIONAL AND PITCH CONTROL WAS LOST.  THE AIRCRAFT CONTACTED TREE TOPS AND IMPACTED THE GROUND APPROX. 1/4 TO 1/2 MILE EAST OF THE AIRSTRIP.  THE PILOT AND PASSENGER RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES, THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED.  (.4) THE AIRPLANE STRUCK TREES WHILE PERFORMING LOW-LEVEL AEROBATIC FLIGHT.  ACCORDING TO 14 C FR PART 91, 'NO PERSON MAY OPERATE AN AIRCRAFT IN AEROBATIC FLIGHT...BELOW AN ALTITUDE OF 1,500 FEET ABOVE THE SURFACE....'

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB NYC99LA124](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC99LA124), May 29, 1999: Toman Great Lakes 2T-1AJ (N275J), Painesville, OH, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's improper decision to conduct low-level aerobatic flight, and his lack of adequate altitude for the maneuver attempted.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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