What happened
On September 23, 2018, a Pitts X2C, registration LV-X683, was engaged in an aerobatic training flight near Carreras, Santa Fe. After departing from a nearby runway, the pilot inverted the aircraft and initiated a vertical climb. As the aircraft reached the top of the ascent, its airspeed depleted significantly. The pilot subsequently lost control, and the aircraft entered a steep dive, impacting the ground at a high angle of attack. The impact was so severe that the aircraft was destroyed, and the pilot sustained fatal injuries.
The investigation
The investigation examined the wreckage, flight instruments, and a GoPro camera recording. Technical analysis of the aircraft's components revealed that all instruments were functioning correctly prior to the impact. Evidence from the impact site, including a crater created by the engine and the lack of debris dispersion, indicated a near-vertical descent. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's credentials and the operational context of the flight.
Findings
- The pilot lost control of the aircraft at the apex of a vertical climb.
- The aircraft experienced a loss of lift due to a high angle of attack at low airspeed.
- The pilot attempted to recover by pulling back on the controls, which, in a stall or spin condition, prevented the airflow from re-establishing laminar flow and instead exacerbated the loss of altitude.
- The low altitude at which the maneuvers were performed left no margin for recovery.
- The pilot lacked the required aerobatic endorsement and held an insufficient medical certification class according to current regulations.
- The aircraft's weight and balance could not be verified because the fuel load was not recorded.