# NTSB CEN15LA428: Sukhoi SU-26, N596TJ, Slidell, TX, September 28, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 27, 2015, 19:00 local (Sep 28, 2015, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Slidell, TX - Coordinates: 33.363056, -97.176109 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3631&lon=-97.1761&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-aerobatics: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report June 16, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 92066 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN15LA428 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92066/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92066 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA428 ## Probable cause The pilot's attempt to recover from an aerobatic maneuver at too low of an altitude to make a safe recovery. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Sukhoi SU-26, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=9850104), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Sukhoi SU-26, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=9850104), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Sukhoi SU-26, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=9850104), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-aerobatics: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Sukhoi SU-26, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=9850104), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Sukhoi SU-26, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=9850104), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airline transport pilot reported that he had been practicing aerobatic maneuvers for an upcoming airshow. He could not recall the events leading up to the accident. Based on the impact scars in the field, it was determined that the airplane struck the ground in a slightly nose-high, wings-level attitude. No mechanical defects with the airplane or engine were noted. It is likely that the pilot conducted an aerobatic maneuver and attempted to recover from it at too low of an altitude for a safe recovery. ## Factual narrative On September 26, 2015, about 2100 central daylight time, a Sukhoi SU-26, N596TJ, impacted terrain during aerobatic practice near Slidell, Texas. The pilot, the sole occupant on board, was seriously injured. The airplane was destroyed. The airplane was registered to and operated by JT Airshows, Slidell, Texas, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan had been filed. The local flight originated from Akroville Airport (XA68), Slidell, Texas, about 1830.According to the Federal Aviation Administration Inspector's Statement, the pilot said he had been practicing aerobatic maneuvers for an upcoming airshow. He could not recall the events leading up to the accident. His first recollection of the accident was shortly after impact when he realized that the cockpit was on fire. He extricated himself from the wreckage and was transported to a hospital The FAA inspector stated that based on the impact scars in the field, he determined that the airplane struck the ground in a slightly nose-high, wings-level attitude. No mechanical defects with the airplane or engine were noted. The fuselage and interior wing sections were destroyed by the post-impact fire. The cockpit, flight controls, and associated cables had been completely destroyed by fire along, with the majority of the cockpit instruments. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N596TJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N596TJ-2018-04-26), registration cancelled 2018-04-26, S/N 01-05, built 1989 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SUKHOI SU-26 - Registry model: [Sukhoi SU-26](https://openairdocs.org/model/sukhoi-su-26) (registry code 9850104) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 01-05 - Year built: 1989 - Engines: Vedeneyev M-14P 360 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: JT Airshows - Registered owner: JT Airshows - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: XA68, Slidell, TX - Destination: XA68, Slidell, TX - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: serious; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 11, 2014; seat: single; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 12,000 total, 300 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: KDTO, 11 nm away ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 13, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92066. 16 KB in all. - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 1, .PDF, 16 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40438806&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-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.