# NTSB SEA95LA167: Pederson Silhouette 1, N5121P, Corvallis, OR, July 30, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 30, 1995, 13:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place: Corvallis, OR
- Coordinates: 44.460746, -123.339019 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.4607&lon=-123.3390&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report February 8, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 42209
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA95LA167
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42209/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA95LA167

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT PERFORMING AEROBATICS AT AN ALTITUDE INADEQUATE FOR 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 (contributing factor)
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE ENGINE LOST POWER NEAR THE TOP OF A LOOP, AND THE AIRPLANE WAS SEEN TO ENTER A SPIRAL OR A SPIN. THE ENGINE RESUMED POWER AS THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO DESCEND, BUT THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED TREES AND TERRAIN AS THE PILOT BEGAN PULLING OUT OF THE RESULTING DIVE.

## Factual narrative

On July 30, 1995, approximately 1330 Pacific daylight time, an experimental Pederson Silhouette 1, N5121P, impacted the terrain west of Corvallis, Oregon. The student pilot, who was the sole occupant, received fatal injuries, and the aircraft was destroyed. The local personal pleasure flight, which departed Corvallis Airport at an unknown time, was being conducted in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed, and there was no report of an ELT activation.

According to witnesses, the aircraft lost power near the top of a loop, and then was seen to enter a spiral or a spin. The engine resumed power as the aircraft began to descend, but the airplane impacted the trees as the pilot began pulling out of the resulting dive.

An autopsy was performed by Dr. Wayne H. Phillips at Corvallis, Oregon, with the cause of death reported as massive traumatic injury to the head and chest. Toxicological testing was performed by the FAA Aeromedical Center, with negative results except for 2.00 (mg/dl) Acetaldehyde detected in the blood.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5121P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5121P-1997-03-19), registration cancelled 1997-03-19, S/N 227 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PEDERSON SILHOUETTE 1 (SILHOUETTE)
- Registry model: [Pederson Earl C SILHOUTTE I](https://openairdocs.org/model/pederson-earl-c-silhoutte-i) (registry code 05612SH) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Engines: ROTAX 447 40 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Earl C. Pederson
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: CVO, OR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 78; student; medical: class 3, expired; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 150 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F

## 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 19950730020029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950730020029A), Jul 30, 1995: Amtr SILHOUETTE, Corvallis, OR, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Engine quit near top of loop. Entered spin. Engine returned but homebuilt hit trees on pullout. Too low for 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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