Overview
An aircraft was destroyed upon impact with the ground after witnesses observed it go out of control during an aerobatic maneuver. The incident occurred while the pilot was performing an unspecified aerobatic sequence.
Witness Accounts
Ground witnesses provided differing descriptions of the event. One witness reported that the aircraft struck the ground in an inverted attitude. Two other witnesses stated that the aircraft rolled right-side-up, executed a loop, and then dove into the ground. The discrepancy in observations highlights varying perspectives on the sequence of events.
Pilot Background
The pilot was an experienced aviator but had limited aerobatic training. According to the pilot's logbook, he had not received any formal aerobatic instruction. He had flown the accident aircraft on eight previous occasions, and on two of those flights he practiced aerobatic maneuvers. This suggests that his total aerobatic experience in the type was minimal.
Aircraft Capabilities and Precautions
The accident aircraft was capable of sustained inverted flight for up to two minutes. A precautionary note in the aircraft documentation indicates that after a period of inverted flight, it may be necessary to fly for one minute under positive G-forces to refill an exhausted header fuel tank. The application of this precaution to the accident circumstances is not specified in the source material.