What happened
The pilot and one passenger were conducting a flight with the primary objective of retrieving spare parts. During the transit phase, the pilot deviated from the planned route to perform an aerobatic maneuver. The passenger recalled that the pilot remarked, "Oh, I can't resist," before initiating a descent toward a field below.
The aircraft made a pass at approximately 50 feet above a ground observer. A Mexican national standing in the field reported witnessing two separate passes over his location. Fearing for his safety, he jumped into a nearby ditch to avoid being struck by the aircraft. Following the second pass, the aircraft failed to regain altitude and struck level ground while maintaining a relatively level flight attitude.
The investigation
The aircraft involved had been modified with conventional landing gear, specifically a fixed tailwheel configuration, on January 2, 1982. This modification likely influenced the handling characteristics during low-speed, low-altitude maneuvers.
Findings
The crash resulted in 2 fatal injuries for the occupants aboard the aircraft. The pilot's decision to perform an unauthorized low-level pass directly contributed to the loss of control and subsequent impact with the terrain.