# NTSB FTW90FA120: Sukhoi SU-26MX, N26TJ, Oklahoma City, OK, June 17, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: June 17, 1990, 13:44 local (18:44 UTC)
- Place: Oklahoma City, OK
- Coordinates: 35.38956, -97.580757 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.3896&lon=-97.5808&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 15, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23024
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW90FA120
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23024/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW90FA120

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO RECOVER FROM THE AEROBATIC MANEUVER AND SUBSEQUENT STALL/SPIN, DUE TO INADEQUATE ALTITUDE. FATIGUE MAY HAVE BEEN A RELATED FACTOR.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction
  - aerobatics - initiated, pilot in command
  - weather condition - high density altitude
  - stall/spin - not corrected, pilot in command (cause)
  - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - fatigue, pilot in command

## Analysis

THE PLT OF THE RUSSIAN BUILT ACFT WAS PARTICIPATING IN AN AEROBATIC SHOW, OF WHICH, HE WAS THE DIRECTOR. HE HAD RPRTD HE WAS FATIGUED, THAT HE HAD BEEN UNDER CONSIDERABLE PRESSURE & THAT HE MIGHT HAVE TO STOP FLYING IN THE AIRSHOW. DRG THE AIRSHOW, A VERTICAL TORQUE ROLL & TAIL SLIDE WERE PERFORMED. ANOTHER TORQUE ROLL & TAIL SLID WERE THEN MADE THAT RESULTED IN AN INVERTED RECOVERY. FINALLY, ANOTHER TORQUE ROLL & TAIL SLIDE WERE PERFORMED THAT EVOLVED IN A 1-1/2 TURN SPIN. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT INPACTED THE GND IN ABOUT A 65 DEG DSCNT. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FND THAT WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN THE ACDNT. THE PLT HAD ENGAGED THE SMOKE GENERATOR FOR THE LAST MNVR & SMOKE ENGULFED THE ACFT AS THE TAIL SLIDE BGN. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THE PLT WAS OPERG THE ELEVATOR CTL TO RECOVER BEFORE IMPACT. HE HAD BEEN TAKING A BETA BLOCKER (PROPRANOLOL), WHICH HAD BEEN PRESCRIBED WITH THE WARNING OF NOT TO USE BEFORE FLT. A BLOOD TEST SHOWED 0.15 MCG/ML OF PROPRANOLOL, BUT NO PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT WAS VERIFIED. DENSITY ALT WAS ABOUT 3800 FT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N26TJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N26TJ-1990-10-23), registration cancelled 1990-10-23, S/N 5101 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SUKHOI SU-26MX
- Registry model: [Sukhoi SU-26MX](https://openairdocs.org/model/sukhoi-su-26mx) (registry code 9850102) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 51-01
- Engines: Vendeneyev M-14 360 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 91
- Registered owner: Jones, Tom D.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: OKC
- Airport: OKC, Will Rogers World

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; toxicology performed; flight hours: 4,500 total, 75 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 97 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: OKC

## 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 19900617057169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900617057169A), Jun 17, 1990: Sukhoi SU26M, Oklahoma City, OK, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Failed to recover from low altitude tail slide. Factors,density altitude too low, pilot fatigue, used medication.

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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