Accident Summary
On a clear day, a renter pilot obtained a parachute from the flight school and departed for a pleasure flight with the intent of performing aerobatic maneuvers. About 50 minutes after takeoff, a witness observed the airplane between 400 and 500 feet above ground level (AGL) in a medium bank descending right turn. The bank angle increased to approximately 60 degrees, and the witness lost sight of the airplane when ground objects and terrain obstructed the view. The accident site was located the following day.
Wreckage and Pilot Condition
The airplane wreckage was fragmented over a 115-foot-long path. The pilot was found in the seat with the lap belt and shoulder harness fastened, and the parachute fully stowed. The cockpit door's emergency release pin assembly—which, when used, separates the entire door from the fuselage—was found seated (not pulled). No evidence of any preexisting mechanical malfunctions or in-flight part separations was detected during the subsequent wreckage examination. The pilot had no physical limitations or reported physiological impairments, and toxicological specimens showed no evidence of drugs.
Aircraft and Pilot Information
The airplane was FAA-certificated in the acrobatic category and designed to withstand +6 and -5 Gs. The adverse effects of acceleration-induced G-force on a pilot's physiology while maneuvering within this range have been documented by the FAA and other organizations, including potential impairments ranging from reduced vision to loss of consciousness (G-LOC). The effects of G-LOC may last 30 seconds and result in a loss of airplane control. A pilot who has recently been exposed to elevated G-loads may have increased tolerance to its effects. The pilot's flight record logbook indicated that he had not flown the Decathlon or performed aerobatics in 5 months. There were no communications with the pilot after departure; his route, maneuvers performed, and altitudes utilized could not be determined. The airplane was not transponder equipped.