What happened
On June 20, 2021, a North American T-28B Trojan, registration OE-ESA, was participating in a formation flight as part of the Antidotum AirShow 2021 transit from Poland to Austria. The aircraft was flying in formation behind a B-25J Mitchell.
While flying at approximately 1,800 feet, the pilot of the T-2XB performed an improvised loop maneuver at a low altitude of roughly 500–600 feet AGL over unknown terrain. During the maneuver, the landing gear was extended, which increased aerodynamic drag and altered the aircraft's trajectory. The pilot lost control of the aircraft during the recovery phase, causing it to strike trees in a wooded area. The fuselage impacted the edge of the forest and caught fire. The pilot sustained fatal injuries, while the passenger, a photographer, was seriously injured.
The investigation
The ÚZPLN investigation established that the aircraft was in a functional technical state prior to the flight. However, the investigation focused on the cockpit environment and the pilot's decision-making. It was discovered that a heavy professional camera, weighing approximately 3 kg, was unsecured on the cabin floor.
The investigators examined the sequence of the loop, noting that the extension of the landing gear during the maneuver created a significant pitch-down moment and loss of energy. The commission also reviewed the operational procedures of the operator, noting a lack of formal protocols regarding formation flying with passengers and risk assessment for such specific flight activities.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the uncontrolled execution of an improvised loop maneuver at a low altitude.
- The extension of the landing gear during the maneuver increased drag and contributed to the loss of altitude and control.
- The pilot suffered a loss of concentration, likely due to the movement of the unsecured 3 kg camera within the cabin, which may have interfered with flight controls.
- The pilot failed to ensure that the heavy photographic equipment was properly secured for aerobatic flight.
- The operator lacked formal procedures for managing formation flights involving passengers and had no documented risk assessments for these specific operations.