According to law enforcement in Senoia, Georgia, the pilot was performing aerial stunts for a children’s party in the Stolp Starduster Acroduster II.
The airplane hit a tree and the pilot lost control of the plane. He was able to maneuver the airplane across the street before hitting another tree and then hitting terrain.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, both wings, and the empennage.
An FAA inspector who examined the airplane after the accident confirmed flight control continuity and reported no anomalies with the flight controls.
The pilot did not submit an NTSB Form 6120.1 Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report or any other statement describing the circumstances surrounding the accident.
Probable Cause: The pilot’s failure to see and avoid trees while maneuvering at low altitude, which resulted in a loss of airplane control.
To download the final report. Click here. This will trigger a PDF download to your device.
This March 2020 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
Hopefully it didn’t deter any if the party goers from becoming pilots in the future. It must have been quite a sight. Because the pilot wasn’t mentioned in the article I assume he survived with minor injuries.
It is very lucky that no one on the ground was injured! This behavior is so stupid that I doubt any reasonable pilot will learn anything from this report…
Did the FAA make an enforcement action against this idiot? If so, how come it isn’t widely published to deter others?
How ignorant do you have to be that this deters you?
I’ll bet your arms hurt when you read this. It is frustrating that the NTSB has to boil the Probable Cause down to something so emotionally agnostic as “The pilot’s failure to see and avoid trees while maneuvering at low altitude, which resulted in a loss of airplane control.” My Probable Cause is a bit more “flowery”. Glad no one was seriously hurt–except for a really nice Starduster. But let’s hope old Fred is never again allowed within 100 feet of an airplane, unless he’s riding in the back.
Last medical in 9/7/2001, accident occurred 3/7/2020, pilot did not report the accident nor does the NTSB report indicate that he provided any, but the minimum information required by law? Performing aerobatics low enough to hit a tree while the birthday party attendees watched? BasicMed wasn’t available back in ’03 when his 3rd Class would have expired so it is safe to assume he’s been ignoring the rules for a while. General Aviation doesn’t need this type of ambassador.
I’ve had CDL and pilot physicals since ’76. I’m 74 now and still current…and yet to have have a physical “discover” anything. Point being other than regulatory compliance, had I never in my life had those physicals it would not have mattered one bit.
As with people harping about hours, some folks are more competent in two weeks than others after thirty years
Well, at least the kids got a good show!