CEN19FA270

The passenger, a TV news anchor, was filming a documentary on the pilot, which included a local flight in the pilot's aerobatic airplane. The airplane departed and turned onto the downwind leg of the airport traffic pattern. The pilot requested to return to the airport but did not specify the reason for the return. A witness described the airplane as, “unstable” and “wiggling,” and said that the engine was sputtering before the airplane impacted the ground and burst into flames. The airplane impacted terrain in an approximate 45° nose-down pitch attitude and was consumed by a post-impact fire. Examination of the flight controls and engine did not reveal any obvious pre-impact anomalies, although severe fire damage precluded complete examination. The wooden propeller blades were severely fractured and splintered, consistent with powered rotation at the time of impact. The reason for the loss of control and impact with terrain could not be determined based on the available information.

A post-crash fire consumed the airplane. There was no evidence of an on-board fire prior to impact. On August 16, 2019, about 1506 central daylight time, a Pitts S2B airplane, N600DF, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near New Orleans, Louisiana. The commercial pilot and one passenger sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The passenger, who was a TV news anchor, was filming a documentary about the pilot, which included a local flight in the pilot's aerobatic airplane. The footage captured the accident takeoff and ended when the airplane was established in level flight on the left downwind leg of the airport traffic pattern for runway 36. Control tower personnel reported that the pilot requested to return to the airport shortly after takeoff but did not specify the reason for returning. The tower controller cleared the pilot to land on runway 36R. A witness saw the airplane and described it as “unstable” and “wiggling,” and he said that the engine was sputtering. The airplane then impacted the ground. He ran over to the scene to try to help but the airplane burst into flames. Another witness was inside a trailer near the accident site. He saw the airplane through a window and saw a “red” streak go by the window and heard the crash. First responders located the airplane wreckage about 0.8 mile south of the airport. The New Orleans Forensic Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, performed an autopsy on the pilot. The cause of death was multiple blunt force injuries. The Federal Aviation Administration Forensic Sciences Laboratory performed toxicology testing on specimens from the pilot. The tests were negative for alcohol and other drugs. The airplane impacted the ground about 45° nose-down on a heading about 355° magnetic. A steel fence, railroad tracks, and power lines were adjacent to the crash site. There were depressions in the ground under the nose and fuselage. A post-impact fire consumed most of the airplane structure, cockpit, and the fabric-covered flight control surfaces. Only remnants of the tube structure remained discernable. The ground surrounding the airplane wreckage was scorched. Flight control continuity was established from all flight control surface attach points to the cockpit control attach points. Separations in the flight control tubes and disruptions in the flight control cables were consistent with overload and/or first responder actions. Some disruptions were caused by melting in the fire. The engine sustained severe thermal damage from a post-crash fire. The engine crankshaft was rotated by hand and drivetrain continuity was confirmed. Accessory gear movement was inhibited by molten material. Thumb compression was established except for the #5 intake valve which was subject to severe thermal damage from the post-crash fire. All spark plugs were removed and examined. Nos. 2, 4, and 6 displayed normal wear. Nos. 1, 3, and 5 wereslightly dark. Examination of the cylinders with a lighted borescope revealed no anomalies. All cylinders and pistons were removed and showed no anomalies. The mixture and throttle controls were encased in molten material and could not be examined. The fuel injectors were clear of debris. The fuel flow divider was clear and the diaphragm was intact. The propeller governor screen was found clear of debris. The wooden propeller blades were fractured and splintered, consisted with powered rotation at the time of impact. The fragments were dispersed around the accident area.