20070704013649A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Boeing N2S-3 · Trenton, MO · July 4, 2007

Date: July 4, 2007 · 11:00 local
Place: Trenton, MO
Phase of flight: Descent
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N1178J
NTSB investigation: NTSBCHI07CA194
Reported as: Boeing N2S3
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 15,700 total250 in this make and model250 in the last 90 days

N1178JRegistration cancelled Nov 7, 2013 · Boeing N2S-3S/N 757685 · Built 1946 Airframe modelBoeing N2S-3 Engine modelContinental W670 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.

(-23) Several witnesses observed the pilot performing aerobatic maneuvers east of Trenton municipal airport (trx). Prior to impact in the Trenton upper lake, the pilot was observed performing a vertical up manuever, followed by a vertical down maneuver. During the pullout and the recovery from the vertical descent the airplane was observed striking the water in a slightly nose down attitude. Physical evidence indicates that the aircraft was traveling at 175 mph indicated airspeed at impact. The debris was spread over several hundred feet from east to west.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) SEVERAL WITNESSES OBSERVED THE PILOT PERFORMING AEROBATIC MANEUVERS EAST OF TRENTON MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (TRX). PRIOR TO IMPACT IN THE TRENTON UPPER LAKE, THE PILOT WAS OBSERVED PERFORMING A VERTICAL UP MANUEVER, FOLLOWED BY A VERTICAL DOWN MANEUVER. DURING THE PULLOUT AND THE RECOVERY FROM THE VERTICAL DESCENT THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED STRIKING THE WATER IN A SLIGHTLY NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. PHYSICAL EVIDENCE INDICATES THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS TRAVELING AT 175 MPH INDICATED AIRSPEED AT IMPACT. THE DEBRIS WAS SPREAD OVER SEVERAL HUNDRED FEET FROM EAST TO WEST.

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 CHI07CA194Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportTrenton, MOThe pilot's failure to maintain sufficient altitude/clearance above the water while maneuvering. A factor in the accident was the low altitude maneuver attempted by the pilot.Jul 4, 2007 · Substantial damage