19990808011019A

Witnesses reported that the acft was attempting to perform a double loop but was too low, and the acft crashed straight to the ground, the 2 POB suffered fatal injuries, the acft sustained substantial damage, other circumstances are unknown. (From .19) on August 8, 1999, at 1048 central daylight time, a stanton pitts S-1S aerobatic experimental airplane, N90HS, was substantially damaged when it impacted tress and terrain while maneuvering near the Coushatta airport, Coushatta, Louisiana. The commercial rated pilot, who was the sole occupant and the owner of the airplane, was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 code of federal regulations (CFR) part 91 local aerobatic flight. According to three aerobatic pilot rated witnesses located at the airport at the time of the accident, the pilot was practicing for an air show. Prior to his second practice run, the pilot told the witnesses that he was going to attempt two snap rolls prior to landing. The witnesses attempted to talk him out of the idea stating that he would not have enough altitude or energy to complete the maneuver. The witnesses stated that in his normal air show routine, the pilot usually completed one snap roll prior to landing, but not two. The witnesses stated that the pilot completed a half cuban 8 when "he pulled the power to idle and then made a left roll to upright, followed by a snap roll to the right." According to the witnesses, during the entry of the second snap roll, "the airplane was low on energy and low in altitude and the airplane entered a nose down spin." They stated that the airplane "made about two turns in the spin prior to impacting the trees in a nose down attitude." The airplane came to rest on its nose in a heavily wooded area about 1,000 feet southeast of the approach end of runway 35. The airplane was intact except for the left upper and lower wings. The cockpit area was accordion crushed forward. Three 40 foot trees were freshly broken and cut at the accident site. The pilot had accumulated 405 hours of total flight time, of which 191 hours were in the same make and model as the accident airplane. (-23)during aerobatic practice, witnesses stated that the pilot completed a half cuban 8, then pulled power to idle and made a left roll, followed by a right roll. Witnesses also stated that upon entry into the right roll the airplane was low on energy and altitude, the aircraft entered into a nose down spin and impacted the ground, coming to rest on its nose. Pilot sustained fatal injuries, no correctives actions possible.