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Plane breaks up in flight when pilot loses control

By NTSB · October 10, 2022 ·

The pilot reported that the Pipistrel Alpha Trainer was at 5,000 feet and an engine power setting of 5,000 rpm when he began to pitch and roll to practice a chandelle.

At the start of the control inputs for the maneuver, he looked down at his kneeboard and personal electronic device and readjusted its position on his leg and around the control stick.

During this time, he told investigators that he may have released the back pressure on the control stick, but continued the turn.

While focused on the kneeboard he heard the engine rpm increase, then looked up and realized the airplane had entered an unusual attitude.

During this same time, he became disoriented and tried to correct visually, instead of by reference to the instruments. He inadvertently increased the rate of descent and was unable to determine the airplane’s position as it rapidly gained airspeed.

He then heard a “pop” sound and deployed the airplane’s ballistic recovery system (BRS). The BRS system’s parachute deployed successfully, and the airplane came to rest in trees near Rural Hall, N.C., without its left wing.

The outboard section of the left wing was subsequently recovered, however, the inboard section was not found.

Probable Cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control and improper recovery from an unusual attitude, which resulted in an in-flight breakup.

NTSB Identification: 102123

To download the final report. Click here. This will trigger a PDF download to your device.

This October 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.

About NTSB

The National Transportation Safety Board is an independent federal agency charged by Congress with investigating every civil aviation accident in the United States and significant events in the other modes of transportation, including railroad, transit, highway, marine, pipeline, and commercial space. It determines the probable causes of accidents and issues safety recommendations aimed at preventing future occurrences.

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Comments

  1. Nick Charles sr says

    October 15, 2022 at 5:24 pm

    Good landing walked away
    Bad landing airplane junk.

  2. Mike Finkle says

    October 15, 2022 at 8:05 am

    Let’s get real here… The simplest explanation for an occurrence is usually the correct one. There is most likely absolutely nothing in this pilot’s report of his inflight actions prior to or during this accident that is true, except for hearing a “pop” as the wing snapped off (into two separate pieces, no less) and pulling the ‘chute.

    This report is nothing more than the pilot’s (extremely poor) attempt to cover his a– by concocting a (ridiculously un-) believable story in his attempt to explain how he snapped a wing off of the aircraft. Attempted aerobatics in an aircraft not rated for them (+4g & -2g) is a FAR simpler and far more plausible cause.

    The fact that he is a CFI makes his actions even worse… what an extremely poor role model. It’s too bad that there was/is apparently not enough digitally-recorded evidence readily available, or perhaps sought out, to prove that what should happen as a result is for him to lose his certificates… permanently!

  3. Cary+Alburn says

    October 15, 2022 at 6:22 am

    Hmmm. Something doesn’t add up. A CFI getting disoriented in VMC is hard to imagine—unless his spin “training” was pencil-whipped. And then putting enough stress on the airframe to snap a wing—wow—that takes some real ham-handedness. Methinks it’s less likely an attempted chandelle and more likely a screwed up attempted snap roll. Lucky for him that the airplane had a chute.

  4. Randee Laskewitz says

    October 15, 2022 at 5:10 am

    Thanks to the BRS, this guy was saved. Chalk up another one for Boris Popov’s invention.

  5. Steve says

    October 11, 2022 at 5:54 am

    A lot can be said for riveted aluminum. It may no longer be true, but for more than 50 years there was never an inflight breakup of a Cessna 150.

  6. MikeL says

    October 11, 2022 at 5:03 am

    Wow, He’s a CFI??? Rule #1 Don’t fixate on anything, keep your scan going. This would’ve been very simple to recover from had he not had his eyes on his knee board.

  7. John Amick says

    October 10, 2022 at 4:47 pm

    You walked away….. good job!

    • scott k patterson says

      October 11, 2022 at 5:19 am

      Bad job, good parachute.

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