# NTSB CEN13LA186: Fisher Michael E Celebrity, N70785, Terrell, TX, March 4, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 4, 2013, 16:25 local (22:25 UTC) - Place: Terrell, TX - Coordinates: 32.68861, -96.310279 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.6886&lon=-96.3103&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-aerobatics: Aircraft structural failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report April 27, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA-DAL-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 86350 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13LA186 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86350/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86350 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA186 ## Probable cause The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s design stress limits while performing aerobatic maneuvers. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: dynamic load](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062032): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Fisher Michael E CELEBRITY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062032/cases.md?model=05625TB), [All aircraft, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062032/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Fisher Michael E CELEBRITY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=05625TB), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Fisher Michael E CELEBRITY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=05625TB), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Wing structure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035700): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Fisher Michael E CELEBRITY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035700/cases.md?model=05625TB), [All aircraft, 48 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035700/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-aerobatics: Aircraft structural failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337) (defining event); cases with it: [Fisher Michael E CELEBRITY, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337/sequence.md?model=05625TB), [All aircraft, 290 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Fisher Michael E CELEBRITY, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05625TB), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis Witnesses reported seeing the airplane performing a series of loops and rolls and then sections of the wings separating from the airplane before it descended and impacted terrain. A postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed that the wing failure initiated at the bottom of the right outboard forward wing strut. This failure allowed the right upper wing to rise, which placed an overload stress on the upper wing spar and bottom right wing. The top wing spar separated in the area left of the fuselage struts. The entire upper wing and lower right wing folded up and rearward and then separated from the airplane. All of the separations were consistent with overload failures, indicating that the pilot exceeded the airplane's design stress limits while performing aerobatic maneuvers. ## Factual narrative The accident airplane was a 1993 experimental amateur built Michael Fisher Celebrity, serial number AV1057. The airplane was issued a Special Airworthiness Certificate on September 28, 1993. It was a two-place, bi-wing airplane with conventional landing gear. The airplane was powered by a 125 horsepower, Continental model IO-240 engine. The airplane was constructed with a fabric covered welded, tubular steel fuselage and empennage. The wooden wing spars and ribs were also fabric covered. The airplane had interplane struts between the upper and lower wings and inverted "V" cabane wing struts which connected the upper wing to fuselage. The pilot purchased the airplane on January 19, 2013. A review of the maintenance logbooks indicated the most recent condition inspection of the airframe and engine was performed on January 18, 2013, at a total airframe and engine total time of 195.3 hours. The emergency locator transmitter battery was replaced on January 22, 2013, at an aircraft total time of 197.82 hours. This was the last entry in the airframe logbook. The aircraft total time at the time of the accident could not be determined due to the postimpact fire. Static load test documents for the Fisher Celebrity airplane show the design load factors used were +4 and -2 g's with the ultimate load factors of +6 and -3 g's. On March 4, 2013, at 1625 central standard time, an amateur built Michael E. Fisher Celebrity airplane, N70785, experienced an in-flight structural failure, loss of control, and impact with the terrain while performing aerobatic maneuvers near Terrell, Texas. The private pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was destroyed by impact and a postimpact fire. The personal flight was being operated under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed from the Mesquite Metro Airport (HQZ), Mesquite, Texas, at an unknown time. Several witness reported seeing the airplane performing aerobatic maneuvers before the accident. One witness reported the airplane made five to seven barrel rolls and was leveling off when the left upper wing separated from the airplane. He stated the wing remained attached by wires and it trailed behind the airplane as it descended to impact with the terrain. Another witness reported hearing changes in the engine power as the pilot performed two loops, followed by a double roll. The airplane flew level for about one mile; then it began a series of two more loops. As the airplane ascended during the second loop, the witness saw two sections of the wing separate from the airplane. He stated these sections "fluttered away" as the airplane continued to ascend. The airplane then entered an aerodynamic stall and descended. The airplane impacted a field which contained a scattering of small trees. The fuselage, empennage, and lower left wing were destroyed by the post impact fire. Sections of the wings that separated from the airplane whileinflight, were located in a wooded area about a half mile east of the main wreckage. An autopsy of the pilot was performed on March 5, 2013, at the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences at Dallas. The cause of death was listed as a result of blunt force injuries. A Forensic Toxicology Fatal Accident Report was prepared for the pilot by the FAA Civil Aeromedical Institute, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The results for tests performed were negative, with the exception of Metoprolol which was found in the muscle and liver tissues. Metoprolol is a beta blocker commonly used to treat hypertension and to prevent mortality from coronary artery disease. At 1653, the weather conditions reported at the Terrell Municipal Airport (TRL), located 3 miles northeast of the accident site were: Wind from 170 degrees at 11 knots gusting to 21 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; clear sky; temperature 24 degrees Celsius; dew point 10 degrees Celsius; altimeter 29.64 inches of mercury. The pilot, age 69, held a private pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine land rating. The pilot was issued a third-class medical certificate on August 23, 2012. The certificate contained the limitation, "Must have glasses available for near vision. Not valid for any class after July 31, 2013." The pilot reported having 1,122 total hours of flight time on the medical certificate application. The last entry in the pilot's logbook was dated May 7, 2012. The pilot's total flight time was listed as 927.79 hours. None of this flight time was logged in the accident make and model of airplane. The logbook did contain several entry comments regarding aerobatic maneuvers. The upper cowling, engine, fuselage, lower left wing, main landing gear, empennage and tail wheel were charred, melted and consumed by the postimpact fire. The upper left wing was fractured at mid-span. The spars and ribs on the upper left wing and both the upper and lower right wings were broken up and aft. The wing fabric was torn and shredded. The right forward interplane wing strut tube was broken at the bottom wing mounting bracket. The fracture surface showed elongation, necking and a 45-degree cone tear consistent with a tension overload failure. The airplane's flight controls were examined. Aileron cable failures to the top wing and bottom right wing were consistent with overload when the wings separated from the airplane. Flight control continuity to the elevator and rudder was confirmed. The airplane's engine was examined and showed continuity throughout. The propeller blades were broken off at the hub and found at the accident site. The propeller spinner was crushed aft and twisted counterclockwise on the propeller hub. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N70785](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N70785-2018-03-02), registration cancelled 2018-03-02, S/N AV1057, built 1993 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: FISHER MICHAEL E CELEBRITY - Registry model: [Fisher Michael E CELEBRITY](https://openairdocs.org/model/fisher-michael-e-celebrity) (registry code 05625TB) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: AV1057 - Airframe hours: 195.3 - Engines: Continental IO-240 125 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Michael J. Payne - Registered owner: Michael J. Payne - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, January 18, 2013 - Departed: KTRL, Mesquite, TX - Destination: KTRL, Mesquite, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 27, 2012; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,122 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 11 knots, gusting 21 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 29.63 inHg - Observed at: TRL, 3 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 20130304002809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130304002809A), Mar 4, 2013: Fisher Michael E CELEBRITY, Terrell, TX, Destroyed, 1 fatal. On March 4, 2013 at approximately 1630 calls came in stating that a small plane crashed in Terrell, TX. It was reported by several eyewitnesses that the pilot… ## Docket (20 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 30, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86350. 32.8 MB in all. - Airframe and Engine Examination (item 1, .PDF, 73 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40424062&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airframe%20and%20Engine%20Examination-Master.PDF - Medical Review (item 2, .PDF, 153 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40424063&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Medical%20Review-Master.PDF - Witness Statements (item 3, .PDF, 163 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40424064&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Flight Logbook – Excerpts (item 4, .PDF, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40424065&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Flight%20Logbook%20%E2%80%93%20Excerpts-Redacted.PDF - Static Test of the Celebrity (item 5, .PDF, 374 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40424066&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Static%20Test%20of%20the%20Celebrity-Master.PDF - Structural Analysis of the Celebrity (item 6, .PDF, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40424067&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Structural%20Analysis%20of%20the%20Celebrity-Master.PDF - Operating Limitations and Airworthiness Certificate (item 7, .PDF, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40424068&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Operating%20Limitations%20and%20Airworthiness%20Certificate-Redacted.PDF - Toxicological Report (item 8, .PDF, 65 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40424069&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Toxicological%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage (item 9, .PDF, 186 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40424070&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage-Redacted.PDF - Photo 01 – Main Wreckage (item 10, .PDF, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40424071&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2001%20%E2%80%93%20Main%20Wreckage-Master.PDF - Photo 02 – Main Wreckage (item 11, .PDF, 2.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40424072&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2002%20%E2%80%93%20Main%20Wreckage-Master.PDF - Photo 03 – Main Wreckage (item 12, .PDF, 2.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40424073&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2003%20%E2%80%93%20Main%20Wreckage-Master.PDF - Photo 04 – Upper Left Wing (item 13, .PDF, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40424074&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2004%20%E2%80%93%20Upper%20Left%20Wing-Master.PDF - Photo 05 – Upper Right Wing (item 14, .PDF, 46 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40424075&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2005%20%E2%80%93%20Upper%20Right%20Wing-Master.PDF - Photo 06 – Upper Right Wing (item 15, .PDF, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40424076&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2006%20%E2%80%93%20Upper%20Right%20Wing-Master.PDF - Photo 07 – Upper Right Wing Attachment (item 16, .PDF, 40 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40424077&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2007%20%E2%80%93%20Upper%20Right%20Wing%20Attachment-Master.PDF - Photo 08 – Cabane Strut Assembly (item 17, .PDF, 5.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40424078&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2008%20%E2%80%93%20Cabane%20Strut%20Assembly-Master.PDF - Photo 09 – Cabane Strut Assembly (item 18, .PDF, 43 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40424079&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2009%20%E2%80%93%20Cabane%20Strut%20Assembly-Master.PDF - Photo 10 – Interplane Strut Assembly (item 19, .PDF, 5.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40424080&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2010%20%E2%80%93%20Interplane%20Strut%20Assembly-Master.PDF - Photo 11 – Interplane Strut Assembly (item 20, .PDF, 3.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40424081&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2011%20%E2%80%93%20Interplane%20Strut%20Assembly-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.