# NTSB FTW81FPD26: Eaa Biplane BR-1, N3181, Brownwood, TX, May 31, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: May 31, 1981
- Place: Brownwood, TX · BROWNWOOD, TX
- Location: 31.7129° N, 98.9771° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Brownwood, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.7129&lon=-98.9771&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 29, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 125573
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW81FPD26
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW81FPD26

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1277  81/5/31    BROWNWOOD,TX        EAA BIPLANE BR-1    CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             ATP,FLIGHT INSTR., AGE
        TIME - 1340                    N3181               PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  28, 3000 TOTAL HOURS, 0
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          BROWNWOOD,TX                LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           STALL: SPIN                                              IN FLIGHT: ACROBATICS
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH AIRCRAFT
        REMARKS- WITNESS OBSERVED ACFT ENTER LOOP AT APPROX 1000FT THEN APPEAR TO FALL OUT INTO A SPIN.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3181](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3181-1984-10-25), registration cancelled 1984-10-25, S/N BR-1 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: EAA BIPLANE BR-1
- Registry model: [Eaa BIPLANE](https://openairdocs.org/model/eaa-biplane) (registry code 33601A8) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19810531031289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810531031289A), May 31, 1981: Amtrea EAABIPLANE*, Brownwood, TX, Substantial damage. Pilot performing aerobatics at low altitude in aircraft he was not familiar with. Stalled and spun at top of loop.

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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