# NTSB ATL90FA120: Hispano Aviacion HA-200, N633HA, Tuskegee, AL, May 27, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 26, 1990, 20:13 local (May 27, 1990, 01:13 UTC)
- Place: Tuskegee, AL
- Coordinates: 32.419902, -85.709991 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4199&lon=-85.7100&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 13, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8134
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL90FA120
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8134/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL90FA120

## Probable cause

IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE AND CLEARANCE ABOVE THE TERRAIN, WHILE PERFOMING LOW ALTITUDE, INVERTED FLIGHT.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE:  THE LACK OF VISUAL PERCEPTION TO THE PILOT AT DUSK (TWILIGHT), THE PILOT'S OVERCONFIDENCE IN HIS PERSONAL ABILITY, AND HIS LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THIS AIRCRAFT AND TYPE OF OPERATION.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - light condition - dusk (contributing factor)
  - aerobatics - attempted, pilot in command
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (cause)
  - elevator - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PLT HAD RECENTLY PURCHASED THE TWIN-ENG JET ACFT & HAD PLANNED TO FLY IT IN A PYLON RACE AT AN ANNUAL FLY-IN.  THE PYLON RACE WAS ABORTED DUE TO POOR VISIBILITY IN TWILIGHT HAZE.  THE PLT THEN MADE 3 HIGH SPEED/LOW ALTITUDE FLY-OVERS ALONG RWY 13.  DURING THE 3RD FLY-OVER, THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED TO ROLL TO INVERTED FLT.  HOWEVER, WHILE FLYING INVERTED, IT BEGAN TO DESCEND.  SUBSEQUENTLY, IT IMPACTED THE GND BESIDE RWY 13, WHILE ON A SE HDG.  THE ACFT WAS EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED BY IMPACT & GND FIRE; THE WRECKAGE TRAIL EXTENDED ABOUT 400 FT.  WITNESSES RPRTD THE ENGS WERE RUNNING THRU-OUT THE MNVR UNTIL IMPACT.  ALSO, WITNESSES RPRTD THAT WHEN THE ACDNT OCCURRED, THERE WAS SOME LIGHT IN THE WEST, BUT THERE WAS DARKNESS TO THE EAST.  THE PLT HAD ONLY ABOUT 2 HRS OF DUAL INSTRUCTION IN THIS ACFT, NONE OF WHICH WAS IN AEROBATICS.  NO OTHER FLT TIME IN THIS ACFT WAS VERIFIED, THOUGH HE HAD 2 BACK SEAT FLTS IN A SIMILAR MAKE & MODEL OF ACFT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N633HA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N633HA-1990-11-20), registration cancelled 1990-11-20, S/N E14A33 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HISPANO AVIACION HA-200
- Registry model: [Hispano Aviacion HA-200 SAETA](https://openairdocs.org/model/hispano-aviacion-ha-200-saeta) (registry code 4380115) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: E14A-33
- Engines: TURBOMECA MARBORE II 880 lbs thrust turbo jet
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 91
- Operator: James A. Butler
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: 06A
- Airport: 06A, Moton Field, runway 13, 5,003 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: unknown, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,021 total, 2 in this make and model, 849 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 330° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
- Observed at: MGM, 40 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19900526017419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900526017419A), May 26, 1990: Hspavn HA200, Tuskegee, AL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Low pass over runway. Pulled up,rolled inverted,struck ground and burned.

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.

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