Introduction
An accident occurred during an air show when a pilot performed a low-altitude aerobatic maneuver on takeoff. The pilot had accumulated 1,700 hours of flight experience.
Sequence of Events
The aircraft initiated its takeoff roll and rotation, which appeared normal to a witness. However, the witness noted that the airplane was slower than usual. When the pilot rolled the aircraft inverted, the pitch angle was higher than normal, and the typical gain in airspeed did not occur.
Witness Observations
The witness, who was hired to professionally videotape the air show and was familiar with the pilot's flight routine, reported that as the pitch angle increased, the airplane's right wing was low and the elevator was in the full down position. The witness described the situation as looking like an "inverted stall situation."
Aftermath
The airplane subsequently descended into the runway while inverted. A post-impact fire ensued following the collision with the runway.