What happened
During the Confederate Air Force 'Airshow 88', a flight consisting of three aircraft was performing maneuvers. The lead aircraft, a Douglas A-20, was executing a procedure turn that required a 90-degree left turn toward the east, followed by a 270-degree right turn to return to a northbound heading. While the aircraft was in the middle of this maneuver, it entered a descending right-hand turn and struck level ground. The descent into the terrain was noted to be relatively wings level. Following the initial impact, the primary wreckage was located approximately 225 feet away from the first point of contact.
Findings
Investigations into the accident determined that the pilot suffered a sudden medical emergency during the flight. A pathological examination revealed that the pilot had significant coronary arteriosclerosis and experienced a heart attack while operating the aircraft. This medical event led to the loss of consciousness, resulting in the pilot's inability to maintain control of the aircraft during the maneuvering phase of the flight.