What happened
On April 7, 2018, a Boeing Stearman PT-17, registration F-HIZI, was conducting a sensation flight at the La Ferté-Alais aerodrome. The flight, operated by Aero Vintage Academy, was intended to consist of a scenic tour followed by aerobatic maneuvers. The pilot and one passenger were on board.
After the completion of two sequences of aerobatic maneuvers—which included loops and barrel rolls—the passenger lost consciousness. The pilot immediately performed an emergency landing and requested medical assistance. Despite the arrival of emergency services and efforts by the pilot and a nearby physician to perform resuscitation, the passenger was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight sequence, the pilot's actions, and the medical history of the passenger. The pilot reported that the passenger, who had previously held a glider pilot license, appeared relaxed and enthusiastic. Before the aerobatic portion of the flight, the pilot briefed the passenger on safety instructions, specifically advising on muscle contraction and maintaining visual contact with the horizon to manage G-forces. The pilot used a rearview mirror to monitor the passenger's reactions.
Data from the aircraft's accelerometer indicated that the maximum acceleration reached during the maneuvers was 3.5 G. The investigation also reviewed the operator's manual, which requires pilots to verbally screen passengers for health issues, particularly cardiac or neurological pathologies, before flight.
Findings
Medical examinations and autopsy revealed that the passenger had several underlying health conditions. The passenger was diabetic and had been experiencing persistent fatigue following a recent pulmonary illness. Additionally, the autopsy showed an enlarged heart and calcified, narrowed coronary arteries. The passenger also met the criteria for moderate obesity.
The investigation concluded that while the G-loads experienced during the flight were relatively low and similar to everyday physical stresses (such as sudden braking in a car), the passenger's underlying cardiovascular and pulmonary pathologies rendered them vulnerable. The physiological stress of the maneuvers likely disrupted the autonomic nervous system's ability to compensate for the accelerations, leading to the fatal event.