Incident Details
The pilot had taken a newlywed couple on a ceremonial 'mile high' local pleasure flight as a wedding gift. During a maneuver, the pilot felt a 'shudder' and elected to make a low pass over an airport taxiway for a 'landing gear check.' Friends on the ground were present with a hand-held radio.
Sequence of Events
During the second pass, the pilot asked the couple to 'look to the right where the moon shines over Barnwell.' The airplane then collided with a spectator on the taxiway. A passenger reported that after the collision, the pilot 'freaked out' and was in no condition to fly the airplane. During a subsequent landing attempt, a different passenger prevented a go-around by forcing the yoke forward and pushing on the brake pedals with his hands. This passenger stated that the pilot 'wanted to keep flying and he was going nuts.'
Aftermath
The pilot fled the scene after the accident but returned later. The pilot had arranged to have the people on the ground 'moon' the airplane during the low pass.