# NTSB DEN90FA104: Canadair CT-133, N233RK, Roswell, NM, May 4, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 4, 1990, 14:49 local (20:49 UTC)
- Place: Roswell, NM
- Coordinates: 33.639961, -104.3796 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6400&lon=-104.3796&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 30, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17831
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN90FA104
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17831/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN90FA104

## Probable cause

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S PERFORMANCE OF AEROBATIC MANEUVERS THAT EXCEEDED THE DESIGN STRESS LIMITS OF THE AIRCRAFT, RESULTING IN CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE WING.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, maneuvering
  - aerobatics - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
  - wing,spar - overload
  - wing,skin - overload
  - flight control,aileron - overload
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

ACFT WAS ON PROMOTIONAL FLIGHT FOR MEDIA PERSONNEL THE DAY BEFORE 'SPECTACULAR AIR SHOW' WAS SCHEDULED TO OPEN. PAX WAS LOCAL RADIO STATION MANAGER AND NEWLY RATED PRIVATE PLT, WHO TOLD GROUND CREW HE HOPED THE PILOT WOULD DEMONSTRATE AEROBATICS. WITNESSES SAW ACFT PERFORMING AEROBATICS 7 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF. ACFT IMPACTED DESERT TERRAIN AND EXPLODED. BOTH TIP TANKS, OUTBOARD WING PANELS, AND AILERONS WERE FOUND APPROXIMATELY 1-1/4 MILE FROM MAIN IMPACT AREA. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION DISCLOSED CATASTROPHIC WING SPAR FAILURE DUE TO NEGATIVE BENDING OVERLOAD. THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF AT LEAST ONE OVER-TRAVEL UP AND ONE OVER-TRAVEL DOWN OF BOTH AILERONS. NO PRE-EXISTING OR FATIGUE CRACKS, OR EVIDENCE OF AILERON FLUTTER WAS FOUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N233RK](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N233RK-1990-12-29), registration cancelled 1990-12-29, S/N 273 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CANADAIR CT-133
- Registry model: [Canadair T-33](https://openairdocs.org/model/canadair-t-33) (registry code 1901204) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 273
- Engines: Rolls-Royce NENE-10 5100 lbs thrust turbo jet
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 91
- Operator: Red Knight Air Shows, doing business as Red Knight Air Shows
- Registered owner: Frank C. Sanders
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: ROW, ROSWELL, NM
- Destination: ROW
- Airport: ROW, Roswell Industrial Air Ct

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 3,000 total, 200 in this make and model, 75 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ROW, 17 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 19900504015929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900504015929A), May 4, 1990: Lkheed T33, Roswell, NM, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Both wing spars failed while attempting a splits,to recover from a inverted dive. Demo to newsman prior to airshow.

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.

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