- Date
- April 12, 1998, 17:45 local (22:45 UTC)
- Place
- Chenoa, IL
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N301NLExtra Flugzeugbau EA-300
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 19, 1999
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19980412006509A
- Case key
- 10850
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot experienced GLOC (G induced loss of consciousness) while performing an aerobatic maneuver. Fatigue was a factor.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
A pilot with aerobatic experience witnessed the accident airplane maneuvering prior to impact. She reported that the airplane was 'kicking around for the turn-around for a knife-edge spin (identical entry as a hammerhead maneuver). Everything looked normal.' The witness reported the airplane was recovering from this maneuver and initiated a 1/4 roll (down) to the left. The witness reported that, 'The plane got lower and lower, closer to the ground. I could see that there was a last minute positive pitch change. I saw him impact the ground flat.' The pilot was found conscious. The witness reported, 'He was aware of what had happened to him. He explained [to] me on the spot that he G-locked (gray-out) during the pullout of the maneuver... .' The pilot reported that a lack of food and water on the day of the accident, in addition to fatigue, contributed to the accident.
Factual narrative
On April 12, 1998, at 1745 central daylight time, an Extra Flugzeugbau EA-300, N301NL, operated by Northern Lights Aerobatic Team, sustained substantial damage. A witness reported that the pilot was practicing aerobatic maneuvers when he lost control of the aircraft. The pilot attempted to regain control but the tail impacted the terrain in a wings level attitude. The pilot received serious injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight had departed Palwaukee Airport, Wheeling, Illinois, as a flight of two, and had flown to a private grass airstrip near Chenoa, Illinois. The first airplane landed and the accident airplane continued to practice aerobatic manuevers. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed.
The pilot of the first airplane reported that she saw the accident airplane maneuvering prior to impact. She reported that the airplane was "kicking around for the turn-around for a knife-edge spin (identical entry as a hammerhead maneuver). Everything looked normal." The witness reported the airplane was recovering from this maneuver and initiated a 1/4 roll (down) to the left. The witness reported that, "The plane got lower and lower, closer to the ground. I could see that there was a last minute positive pitch change. I saw him impact the ground flat."
The witness reported that the pilot was found conscious. The witness reported, "He was aware of what had happened to him. He explained [to] me on the spot that he G-locked (gray-out) during the pullout of the maneuver (what explains why he was forced to relax the back stick pressure-to prevent a pass-out), and was asking if he cleared the power (or phone?) lines (what explains the last second pitch change)."
The pilot reported a lack of food and water on the day of the accident, in addition to fatigue, contributed to the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N301NL
- Reported as
- Extra Flugzeugbau EA-300
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 059
- Airframe hours
- 1,250
- Engine
- Lycoming AEIO-540, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Northern Lights Aerobatic Team
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Aerobatic
- Departed
- PWK · Palwaukee, IL
- Destination
- 11LL · Thacker Field, IL
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 28
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 3,500 total · 600 in this make and model · 100 in the last 90 days · 50 in the last 30 days · 6 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 160° at 27 knots, gusting 34
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- BMI, 30 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.