# NTSB CHI96LA108: Bishop-Christian Eagle II, N219RC, Cambridge, IN, March 15, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 15, 1996, 14:27 local (19:27 UTC) - Place: Cambridge, IN - Coordinates: 39.810745, -85.170234 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8107&lon=-85.1702&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report September 3, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10210 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI96LA108 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10210/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96LA108 ## Probable cause the pilot allowed the airplane to enter a flat spin, while performing an acrobatic maneuver, and was unable to recover before ground impact. Factors relating to the accident were: the pilot's overconfidence in his personal ability, and his lack of familiarity with the airplane's flight characteristics. ## 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 - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall/spin - not corrected, pilot in command (cause) - lack of familiarity with aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The pilot had owned the airplane about 2 to 3 weeks. According to witnesses, he was performing aerobatics when the airplane entered a flat spin. Subsequently, the airplane collided with the ground and produced no ground scars other than from its impact point. The pilot had performed aerobatics in a Luscombe during the 1970's and 1980's. The owner of the fixed base operation, where the airplane was based, stated the pilot had not received any acrobatic instruction locally. There were no mechanical anomalies found with the airframe, control system, or engine that would have prevented normal operation of the airplane. ## Factual narrative On March 15, 1996, at 1427 eastern standard time, a Bishop- Christian Eagle II, N219RC, piloted by a private pilot, was destroyed when it collided with the ground while in a flat spin attitude. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was not operating on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot was fatally injured. The flight originated from New Castle, Indiana, exact time unknown. Witnesses observed the airplane doing aerobatics for 15 to 20 minutes. One witness said the airplane "...went into ...[a] vertical climb, after a few seconds of steady climbing I could hear the engine begin to slow from the pilot throttling back so the aircraft would stall. Just before it stalled the left wing tip dropped and the aircraft went into a counterclockwise flat spin with the nose slightly down." He said the engine was still running at idle or slightly above idle speed. Two other witnesses confirmed the description given by the witness who described the flat spin. The on-scene investigation was conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Principal Maintenance Inspector (PMI). The PMI reported the airplane did not produce a ground scar during its impact sequence. He said the airplane's upper wing and top section of the fuselage had collapsed toward the bottom wing and fuselage. One propeller blade had impacted the ground and was bent aft about 90 degrees at the hub. The PMI stated there were no mechanical anomalies with the engine, airframe, or control system that would prevent flight. He said he observed a fluid that was similar in color and odor to aviation 100LL fuel in the fuel line from the throttle body to fuel distributor and return line. He said the throttle was in the full forward position. The former owner of N219RC said he gave the accident pilot about 10 hours of dual instruction. He said he did not teach the pilot any aerobatics, only how to takeoff and land the airplane. The former owner said he was not a flight instructor. He said he told the pilot to learn to fly the airplane "...right side up..." before he did any aerobatics in it. The former owner said he told the pilot to get acrobatic dual from a flight instructor qualified in the Eagle II before he did any aerobatics on his own. The former owner said he told the pilot that the Eagle II was not like the Luscombe he used to own. He said the accident pilot had performed aerobatics in a Luscombe. The former owner told the pilot to do aerobatics above 5,000 feet above ground level. He said the airplane shouldn't be flown low and slow. He said the way to recover from a flat spin in the Eagle II was to retard the power and "...turn loose of the stick." He said the airplane will go into an inverted flat spin from a hammerhead stall if the pilot applies left rudder and waits too long. The manager of the fixed base operation where N219RC had been hangared said the accident pilot and a partner had owned the airplane about 2 to 3 weeks. He said the pilot had not received any acrobatic instruction from any local instructors. He said the pilot did aerobatics in a Luscombe during the late 1970's and 1980's. The pilot's autopsy was conducted at the Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, on March 16, 1996. The autopsy's toxicology report was negative for drugs and alcohol. The FAA Civil Aeromedical Institute toxicology report was negative. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N219RC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N219RC-2013-08-05), registration cancelled 2013-08-05, S/N BISHOP 0001, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BISHOP-CHRISTIAN EAGLE II - Registry model: [Bishop ED CHRISTIAN EAGLE II](https://openairdocs.org/model/bishop-ed-christian-eagle-ii) (registry code 05658GG) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming AEIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-aeio-360-series) (registry code 41522, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: BISHOP 0001 - Airframe hours: 707 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1D 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: G. Newton/A Roberson - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 1995, 13 hours before - Departed: UWL, NEW CASTLE, IN ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,500 total, 14 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 15 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Observed at: IND, 60 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 19960315007439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960315007439A), Mar 15, 1996: Amtr EAGLE2, Cambridge, IN, Destroyed, 1 fatal. (.4)The pilot had owned the airplane about 2 to 3 weeks. According to witnesses, he was performing aerobatics when the airplane entered a flat spin.… 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.