On August 2, 1991, a Champion 7GCBC (registration N1693G) operated by Halbeisen, John F was involved in an aviation accident near Lake Elsinore, CA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: THE IN-FLIGHT FAILURE OF THE RIGHT ELEVATOR. FACTORS RELATING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S DECISION TO PERFORM AEROBATICS AT AN IMPROPER ALTITUDE. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A private pilot and passenger were killed when their airplane crashed into a lake during an aerobatic maneuver. Investigation revealed the right elevator tube failed at its butt-weld joint in flight.
Accident Sequence
The pilot departed from a privately owned airport for an acrobatic flight. The flight took place over a lake. Multiple witnesses observed the airplane performing loops and rolls. These maneuvers were conducted at an altitude of less than 300 feet above the ground. After the loops and rolls, the pilot initiated a hammerhead stall maneuver. The airplane then began to spin, assuming a nearly vertical nose-down attitude. The pilot was unable to recover from the spin. The airplane continued to descend and eventually struck the surface of the lake in that attitude. The private pilot and passenger were killed in the accident.
Investigation Findings
After the accident, an examination of the wreckage was conducted. The examination disclosed that the right elevator tube had failed at its butt-weld joint while the airplane was in flight. No additional information regarding the cause of the failure or other factors was provided in the source document.