# NTSB WPR15LA255: Extra Flugzeugbau EA 300/L, N4BM, Jerome, ID, September 2, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 1, 2015, 19:40 local (Sep 2, 2015, 01:40 UTC) - Place: Jerome, ID - Coordinates: 42.721668, -114.439163 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7217&lon=-114.4392&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-aerobatics: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report May 16, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Adminstration, Lycoming Engines - NTSB case key (mKey): 91909 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR15LA255 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91909/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91909 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15LA255 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from terrain while conducting a low-altitude aerobatic maneuver. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Extra Flugzeugbau EA 300/L, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=70218DG), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Extra Flugzeugbau EA 300/L, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=70218DG), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Extra Flugzeugbau EA 300/L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=70218DG), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-aerobatics: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Extra Flugzeugbau EA 300/L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=70218DG), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-aerobatics: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Extra Flugzeugbau EA 300/L, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=70218DG), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot was conducting a local personal flight. A witness located at the airport reported that he observed the accident airplane take off and then head southwest. He then observed the airplane perform a loop, and he estimated that, at the top of the maneuver, the airplane was about 1,500 ft above ground level. As the airplane began leveling off at the bottom of the loop, it descended out of the witness's line of sight behind a building. The pilot reported that he did not recall anything about the flight. Postaccident examination of the recovered wreckage did not reveal any preexisting mechanical malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. Wreckage and impact signatures were consistent with a high-energy, low-angle impact with terrain. It is likely that the pilot did not properly gauge the airplane's distance from terrain while conducting the low-altitude aerobatic maneuver and failed to level off in time to avoid impacting terrain. ## Factual narrative On September 1, 2015, about 1940 mountain daylight time, an Extra Flugzeugbau GMBH EA 300/L, N4BM, was destroyed when it impacted terrain near the Jerome County Airport (JER), Jerome, Idaho. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight. The local flight originated from JER about 5 minutes prior to the accident.A witness located at the airport reported that he watched the accident airplane take off and head to the southeast. The witness said that another person who was with him had asked the pilot to return and do a fly by, so they went outside to watch. The witness stated that he observed the accident airplane southeast of the airport, conducting a loop, and estimated that the airplane was about 1,500 feet above ground level as the airplane neared the top of the maneuver. The witness further stated that as he walked away from the building to continue to watch the airplane, he observed it descend out of his line of sight behind a building. He added that as it descended below the building, the airplane appeared to have started to level out, and felt that it should have had enough altitude. The pilot reported that he didn't recall anything regarding the accident flight other than getting into the airplane and waking up in the hospital 5 days later. The pilot stated that he wanted to go on an easy flight in order to clear his mind since his wife passed away a couple weeks prior, and that he had no intent of performing aerobatics. Examination of the airplane and accident site by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the airplane impacted a corn field about one-half mile southeast of the approach end of runway 27. All major structural components of the airplane were located at the accident site. Wings, engine, and empennage were separated from the fuselage and located within the wreckage debris path. Local law enforcement reported that the debris path was about 375 feet in length. The wreckage was recovered to a secure location for further examination. Examination of the recovered wreckage revealed that the wings, empennage, and engine were separated from the fuselage. The fuselage was mostly intact. The canopy glass was separated from the canopy structure. The empennage was separated about 30 inches aft of the rear seat. The throttle, mixture, and propeller control cables were pulled /stretched. The acro / center fuel tank remained intact. Air was applied to the fuel filler of the fuel tank, and residual fuel was observed being expelled from the airframe fuel filter housing (gascolator), which was impact damaged. Flight control continuity was established from the forward and aft control sticks to the left and right wing root, and aft to the separation point of the empennage. Bothcontrol sticks remained interconnected. Left and right aileron control continuity was established with various areas of impact damage observed to the control torque tubes (fractures consistent with overload). The rudder cables remained attached to the rudder pedals and exhibited overload signatures (in an area consistent with the separation of the fuselage). The left and right wings were impact damaged, and were mostly fragmented. The empennage was intact, with the horizontal stabilizers and vertical stabilizers still intact. The forward spars for the left and right elevators and the rudder remained attached to their respective mounts, and the remainder of each flight control surface was fragmented. The engine was separated from its mounts. Both the left and right magnetos were separated. The oil cooler exhibited impact damage. The accessory housing, rocker box covers, top spark plugs, and propeller assembly were removed. The engine rotated partially by hand using a hand tool. Examination of cylinder number two revealed that the cylinder bore was filled with dirt and metallic debris (portion of the intake elbow). The cylinder was partially removed from the crankcase, and the crankshaft was manually rotated. Thumb compression and suction was obtained on cylinders 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6. Mechanical continuity of cylinder number 2 was established. No internal physical or mechanical damage was observed internally for cylinder 2 when inspected using a lighted borescope. For further details of the airframe and engine examination, see the NTSB Airframe and Engine Examination Summary report within the public docket for this accident. No evidence of any preexisting mechanical malfunction was observed that would have precluded normal operation with the airframe or engine. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4BM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4BM-2018-03-26), registration cancelled 2018-03-26, S/N 017, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: EXTRA FLUGZEUGBAU GMBH EA 300/L (L) - Registry model: [Extra Flugzeugbau EA 300/L](https://openairdocs.org/model/extra-flugzeugbau-ea-300-l) (registry code 70218DG) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming AEIO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-aeio-540-series) (registry code 41568, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 017 - Year built: 1996 - Airframe hours: 587.11 - Engines: LYCOMING AEIO-540 SER reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 2, 2014, 12.62 hours before - Departed: JER, Jerome, ID - Destination: JER, Jerome, ID - Airport: JER, Jerome County - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; last flight review March 16, 2014; seat: rear; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 100 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 29.81 inHg - Observed at: KJER, 1 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 20150901024149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150901024149A), Sep 1, 2015: Extra Flugzeugbau Gmbh EA 300/L, Jerome, ID, Destroyed. The aircraft came to rest in a corn field approximately 1.5 miles southeast from the Jerome, ID airport. The aircraft came in at a relatively low angle that is… ## Docket (9 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 23, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91909. 5.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40437958&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Records of Conversation - Witness Statements (item 2, .PDF, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40437959&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Records%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Witness%20Statements-Master.PDF - Portion of a Report from Local Agencies - Jerome County Sheriff (item 3, .PDF, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40437960&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Portion%20of%20a%20Report%20from%20Local%20Agencies%20-%20Jerome%20County%20Sheriff-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 4, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40437961&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Witness (item 5, .PDF, 55 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40437962&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Witness-Master.PDF - NTSB Airframe and Engine Examination Summary (item 6, .PDF, 74 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40437963&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Airframe%20and%20Engine%20Examination%20Summary-Master.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 7, .PDF, 208 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40437964&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Master.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 8, .PDF, 126 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40437965&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-Master.PDF - Photographs of the Recovered Wreckage (item 9, .PDF, 3 photos, 386 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40437966&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photographs%20of%20the%20Recovered%20Wreckage-Master.PDF 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.