History of Flight
On March 6, 2010, at 1236 central standard time, a North American SNJ-6, registration N47LF, was destroyed when it impacted the Gulf of Mexico approximately 1 mile south of Topsail Hill Reserve State Park, Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. The certificated commercial pilot and a passenger were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without a flight plan. The airplane was part of a five-aircraft formation.
According to the formation lead pilot, all pilots met around 1130 for a briefing. The flight departed about 1200, heading westbound over water along the east-west beach for about 4 miles, practicing cross unders and echelons. After a breakup and rejoin, the formation proceeded eastbound. Later, turning south away from the beach, another breakup led to an in-trail formation heading eastbound. The accident airplane was number 5 in trail.
Pilots reported that some were performing aileron rolls while in trail; no additional aerobatics such as loops or barrel rolls were attempted from an altitude of about 500 feet. A trail pilot noted separation between airplanes was about 2,000 yards.
A video clip from the beach showed the last four airplanes in trail heading eastbound. The number 2 airplane performed a left aileron roll, exiting the screen at about 270 degrees. Number 3 appeared at a lower altitude with left wing down 20-30 degrees. Number 4 entered nose-up about 30 degrees, rolled left, and exited upside down. Number 5, the accident airplane, entered about 30 degrees nose-up and 30 degrees left wing down, rolled left, reached 90 degrees, then continued to inverted. Its nose dropped to about 10 degrees low. After reappearing at 225 degrees roll, it began a right turn while continuing left roll recovery. As it reached a southerly heading, the roll reversed, wings went vertical, nose dropped, and it descended into the water about 90 degrees nose low, with the right wingtip striking first. No objects departed the airplane and no distress calls were heard.
Personnel Information
The pilot, age 60, held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine sea, and instrument airplane. His logbook was not recovered. On his latest FAA second-class medical application dated July 17, 2009, he reported 5,400 hours of total flight time. Another formation pilot noted no abnormal behavior and that the pilot was upbeat and had flown the accident airplane the previous day.
Aircraft Information
The North American SNJ-6 was powered by a Pratt & Whitney R-1340-AN1 engine producing 600 horsepower. According to logbooks, the last annual inspection was completed on August 19, 2009. At that time, the airframe had 2,054.8 hours, and the engine had 6,056.6 hours (884.6 since major overhaul). Other formation pilots described the airplane as meticulous, beautiful, and immaculate, with no expense spared in maintenance.
Meteorological Information
Weather reported at Destin Airport, about 10 nautical miles west, at 1253 included clear skies, visibility 10 statute miles, wind from 190 degrees true at 7 knots, temperature 14°C, dew point -3°C, and altimeter setting 30.24 inches Hg.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The wreckage was located in 60 feet of water at coordinates 30°20.69'N, 86°16.79'W. Divers recovered pieces, with the largest being the fuselage with engine attached. The tail was attached only by control cables. The wing center section was recovered; outboard sections were not due to low visibility. Both main landing gear were retracted. Examination on the recovery barge showed one propeller blade curled aft with leading edge gouging, diagonal scratches, and chordwise burnishing; the other blade had curling near the tip and burnishing. The engine suffered impact damage to almost all cylinders. Control cable continuity was confirmed to rudder and elevator, but not to ailerons due to missing cables; aileron cables in the center wing section were broomstrawed, consistent with overload. Most cockpit instruments were destroyed; the hour meter indicated 2,107.7 hours. No recording devices were found.
Medical and Toxicological Information
An autopsy determined the pilot's cause of death as multiple blunt force injuries. Toxicological testing by the FAA Forensic Toxicology Research Team showed no anomalies.