# NTSB FTW93LA252: Mascola Christen Eagle II, N53JS, Palo Pinto, TX, September 5, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 5, 1993, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place: Palo Pinto, TX
- Coordinates: 32.819812, -98.069648 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8198&lon=-98.0696&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 30, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18825
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW93LA252
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18825/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW93LA252

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S INTENTIONAL STALL AT AN ALTITUDE INSUFFICIENT TO ALLOW A SAFE RECOVERY.

## 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
  - stall - intentional, pilot in command (cause)
  - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PILOT WAS SCHEDULED TO PERFORM IN AN AIR SHOW LATER ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT. HE TOOK OFF FROM THE AIRPORT AND PROCEEDED TO AN UNINHABITED AREA TO PRACTICE AEROBATIC MANEUVERS PRIOR TO HIS OFFICIAL DEMONSTRATION. A WITNESS SAW THE AIRCRAFT ENTER A HAMMERHEAD STALL, SPIN, AND THEN RECOVER. THE AIRPLANE THEN ENTERED A SECOND HAMMERHEAD STALL AT LOW ALTITUDE AND WAS IN AN ALMOST VERTICAL NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE WHEN IT DISAPPEARED FROM VIEW.

## Factual narrative

On September 5, 1993, at approximately 1100 central daylight time, N53JS, a Mascola Christen Eagle II, impacted terrain about three miles north of Palo Pinto, Texas, during aerobatic maneuvers.  The airplane was destroyed and the airline transport rated pilot was fatally injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight.

The pilot was scheduled to perform in an air show later that day.

He took off from the airport and proceeded to an uninhabited area to practice aerobatic maneuvers prior to his official demonstration.  A witness told a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector he saw the airplane enter a hammerhead stall, then spin.  The airplane entered a second hammerhead stall at an altitude of approximately 900 feet AGL (above ground level), spin, and disappear behind a small hill.  When the witness last saw the airplane, it was in an almost vertical attitude.  The witness, who holds a private pilot license, is familiar with aerobatic maneuvers, having performed them in a Beech T-34.  The witness also submitted a written statement and it is attached as an exhibit to this report.

The FAA inspector submitted a statement describing his on-scene investigation and is attached as an exhibit to this report.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N53JS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N53JS-1999-11-04), registration cancelled 1999-11-04, S/N MASCOLA-0001 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MASCOLA CHRISTEN EAGLE II (CHRISTEN E)
- Registry model: [Mascola Richard CHRISTEN EAGLE II](https://openairdocs.org/model/mascola-richard-christen-eagle-ii) (registry code 05658TY) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 0001
- Airframe hours: 217
- Engines: LYCOMING AEIO-360 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Siegel, Jon H.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Unknown, August 20, 1993, 3 hours before
- Departed: MWL, MINERAL WELLS, TX

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: rear; toxicology performed; flight hours: 8,500 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: MWL, 13 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 19930905032949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930905032949A), Sep 5, 1993: Amtral EAGLE2, Palo Pinto, TX, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Practice aerobatic maneuvers for airshow. Entered hammerhead stall spin and recover. Enter another too low. Crashed

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.