# NTSB BFO88FID01: Perkins Christen Eagle II, N115MC, Williamsburg, VA, February 28, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: February 28, 1988, 00:00 local (05:00 UTC)
- Place: Williamsburg, VA
- Coordinates: 37.269031, -76.700386 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2690&lon=-76.7004&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 25, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11376
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO88FID01
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11376/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO88FID01

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - aerobatics - performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/spin - not corrected, pilot in command (cause)
  - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

WITNESSES SAW THE ACFT PERFORMING AEROBATICS WHICH INCLUDED LOOPS AND ROLLS. THE ACFT WAS CLIMBING IN A LOOP WHEN IT SUDDENLY PITCHED DOWN AND DESCENDED TO THE GROUND. SOME WITNESSES SAID THE ACFT WAS SPINNING AS IT DESCENDED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N115MC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N115MC-1988-10-06), registration cancelled 1988-10-06, S/N PERKINS0001 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PERKINS CHRISTEN EAGLE II (CHRISTEN E)
- Registry model: [Perkins Marcus E CHRISTEN EAGLE II](https://openairdocs.org/model/perkins-marcus-e-christen-eagle-ii) (registry code 05658UL) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: P001
- Airframe hours: 50
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1B6D 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Marcus E. Perkins
- Registered owner: Marcus E. Perkins
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Unknown, October 27, 1987, 50 hours before
- Departed: PHF, NEWPORT NEWS, VA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, unknown; seat: rear; toxicology performed; flight hours: 850 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 7 knots, gusting 5
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: PHF, 15 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 19880228003609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880228003609A), Feb 28, 1988: Amtr CHRISEAGLE2, Williamsburg, VA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Aircraft stalled in a loop at a low altitude. Went into a spin. Hit the ground inverted flat on the cockpit area.

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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