# NTSB MKC86FCJ01: Carothers Monoplane, N44XP, Lincoln, NE, November 7, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: November 7, 1985, 16:44 local (22:44 UTC)
- Place: Lincoln, NE
- Coordinates: 40.850677, -96.520545 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8507&lon=-96.5205&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 34086
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC86FCJ01
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/34086/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC86FCJ01

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - aerobatics - performed, pilot in command
  - stall - not corrected, pilot in command
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)

## Analysis

THE PLT WAS PERFORMING AEROBATICS WHILE BEING PHOTOGRAPHED FOR A PROMOTIONAL VIDEO. ON THE LAST PASS OVER THE ARPT THE ACFT LOST AIRSPEED AND BEGAN A SIDE SLIP WITH THE LEFT WING DOWN. AT A VERY LOW ALT AGL THE ACFT APPEARED TO STALL AND ASSUME A HIGHER SINK RATE, STRIKING THE GROUND WITH THE LEFT WING & NOSE. THE PLTS HEAD HIT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DURING THE CRASH SEQUENCE AND HE LOST CONSCIOUSNESS. THE PLT DID NOT REGAIN CONSCIOUSNESS AND EXPIRED ON 1/3/86. TWO OF THE PLTS FRIENDS, WHO WERE ALSO AEROBATIC PLTS, REVIEWED THE VIDEO TAPES AND CONCLUDED THAT THE PLT MAY HAVE HAD A MEDICAL IMPAIRMENT AND WAS TRYING TO LAND WITHOUT TOTAL CONTROL. NO MECHANICAL DISCREPANCIES WERE FOUND AND THE PLTS LAST MEDICAL EXAM ON 10/10/85 REVEALED NO ABNOMALITIES. THE VIDEO CAMERAMAN, WHO HAD MADE OTHER VIDEOS WITH THE PLT, SAID THAT THE PLT APPEARED UNSUALLY NERVOUS BEFORE THE FLT, HE ALSO SAID THAT THE LAST APPROACH TO THE FIELD WAS NOT A NORMAL ONE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N44XP (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CAROTHERS MONOPLANE
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 001
- Airframe hours: 7
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-CIC 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Charles E. Carothers
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, March 10, 1985, 168 hours before
- Departed: PSR, LINCOLN, NE
- Airport: OP, Pester Skyranch, runway 14, 1,700 × 75 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19851107056109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19851107056109A), Nov 7, 1985: Amtr CAROTHERMONO, Lincoln, NE, Destroyed. Impacted ground during steep bank turn after maneuvers with high g force. Blackout due to high g forces suspect.

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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