- Date
- July 8, 1989, 10:55 local (15:55 UTC)
- Place
- Troy, AL
- Injuries
- 2 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N7973ABeech A45
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 22, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19890708020879A
- Case key
- 7905
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.
The pilot's improper use of the airplane flight controls during a aerobatic maneuver at low altitude due to his lack of aerobatic experience. A contributing factor was the pilot's overconfidence in his ability to perform the maneuver.
Analysis
The accident airplane was the 2nd of 5 similar models performing a low-level flyby over the rwy. Witnesses reported that the airplane climbed and attempted to perform an aileron roll to the left shortly after the 1st airplane had successfully performed the maneuver. A videotape recording of the accident revealed that the roll rated slowed and the nose began to drop as the airplane rolled inverted. The airplane began a diving turn to the right, and subsequently crashed off to the rt side of the rwy. The wreckage exam revealed no evidence of any pre-existing mechanical malfunction or failure. A relative of the plt reported that the plt did not have much aerobatic experience and did not like to perform aerobatics. Examination of the pilot's logbook for the preceding year revealed no logged aerobatic experience. A fly-in was in progress at the arpt when the mishap occurred. According to the fly-in organizer, no aerial demonstrations were planned.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7973A
- Reported as
- Beech A45
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- G-85
- Airframe hours
- 5,194
- Engine
- Continental IO-520-BB, 285 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- West Equipment Corp.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Aerobatic
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 10, 1989 · 42 hours before
- Airport
- TOI · Troy Municipal, runway 14, 4,999 × 10 ft
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 54
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Front
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 2,552 total · 1,700 in this make and model · 2,470 as pilot in command · 51 in the last 90 days · 17 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 210° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MGM
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N7973A · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.