What happened
On September 8, 2007, a Pitts S-2B, registration G-SIIB, was involved in an aircraft accident at Olomouc Airport (LKOL), Czech Republic. The pilot had arrived at the airfield to participate in an aviation event. During the afternoon, the pilot took off for a flight that was not part of the approved event program.
While performing an accelerated flat spin, smoke from the aircraft's smoke generation system entered the cockpit through ventilation vents. This caused the pilot to lose visual references and spatial orientation. The pilot's delayed recovery attempt resulted in the aircraft entering a steep spiral. The aircraft struck the ground at the southeastern edge of the airfield, causing significant damage to the landing gear, engine, wing, and fuselage. The pilot, who was flying solo, was uninjured.
The investigation
The ÚZPLN investigation reconstructed the flight using pilot testimony, witness statements, and video footage captured by spectators. The investigation established that the pilot was performing unauthorized maneuvers without official approval for an aerobatic display.
Investigators found that the pilot's SEP land qualification had expired more than two months prior to the accident, rendering the pilot unqualified to fly. Furthermore, the investigation noted that the altimeter was incorrectly set, as the pressure setting did not match the local QNH, which contributed to inaccurate altitude readings during the maneuver.
Findings
- The pilot intended to perform an aerobatic display without the required authorization.
- Loss of visual references due to smoke entering the cockpit prevented the pilot from maintaining orientation.
- The delay in initiating the recovery from the flat spin led to a critical loss of altitude, making it impossible to recover from the subsequent steep spiral before ground impact.
- The pilot's SEP land qualification was invalid at the time of the flight.
- The aircraft's ventilation vents were left partially open, allowing smoke to penetrate the cabin.