What happened
During an airshow, a pilot was executing a landing approach following specific arrival procedures for the event. While flying the downwind leg for runway 27, air traffic control instructed the pilot to turn onto the base leg and target a specific landing point located approximately 2,500 feet from the displaced threshold. During this maneuver, the pilot observed another aircraft taxiing onto the runway and beginning its takeoff roll. Consequently, the controller modified the landing clearance, instructing the pilot to target a different point closer to the threshold, roughly 1,000 feet from the displaced threshold.
Although the pilot contemplated performing a go-around, the decision was made to proceed with the approach. As the pilot reduced engine power, the aircraft entered a stall and struck the runway in a nose-down attitude with the right wing low. Witnesses reported a bank angle exceeding 60 degrees prior to the impact. Video analysis confirmed that the aircraft was at approximately 180 feet above ground level when the turn onto the base leg commenced, descending to about 140 feet during the turn. During this period, the total inertial speed of the aircraft dropped from 98 knots to 80 knots, eventually falling below 70 knots during the final 8 seconds of flight.
Findings
Post-accident inspections of the engine and airframe showed no mechanical failures that would have prevented normal operation. While the aircraft maintained the required 1,500-foot separation from the departing aircraft according to airshow standards, the combination of the departing aircraft's presence and the modified landing instructions created a high-workload environment. This environment likely hindered the pilot's ability to monitor altitude and airspeed effectively. The aircraft entered an accelerated stall because the pilot attempted to reach the new landing target while maintaining a steep bank angle and low airspeed, causing the aircraft to exceed its critical angle of attack at an altitude that precluded recovery.