On December 19, 2004, an American Champion Aircraft 8KCAB (registration N992RS) operated by Harvey And Rihn Aviation was involved in an aviation accident near Texas City, TX. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's loss of control during an inverted flight maneuver at low altitude. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A private pilot attempting to roll an aircraft upright after flying inverted at low altitude struck the ground with a wing, resulting in airframe damage.
What happened
A witness positioned near the accident site observed the 370-hour private pilot operating the aircraft in an inverted attitude. The flight occurred at an approximate altitude of 50 feet above ground level and continued for a distance of roughly 250 yards. As the pilot initiated a maneuver to roll the airplane back to an upright position, one of the wings made contact with the ground.
The investigation
Following the incident, investigators examined the airframe to determine if mechanical failure played a role in the event. The examination did not reveal any anomalies or defects that could have contributed to the accident.
Probable cause
The pilot's loss of control during an inverted flight maneuver at low altitude.