Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Fire Island, New York 11782
Monday, September 4, 1995 13:25 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot/owner departed with another pilot for a local flight. About 25 minutes later, witnesses 3/4 mile off shore observed the airplane impact the water from a descending spin. Examination revealed no preimpact failure of the airplane or engine. The kit airplane was designed for aerobatic flight. The pilot/owner was not known to have performed aerobatic maneuvers. The other pilot owned an aerobatic airplane, and was known to have performed aerobatics. He had 1750 hours total time; 280 hours in a Pitts S-2 and 1 hour in this make and model. He was observed 2 hours earlier that day in another airplane performing aerobatics over the water near the area of the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the failure of the pilots to maintain control of the airplane while performing aerobatics.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/4/1995
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1325
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City FIRE ISLAND
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 11782
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1250 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 360
Weather Observation Facility ID ISP
Elevation of weather observation facility 99
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 5000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 190
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 1400
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1847
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 4 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1333
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:36PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4171G
NTSB Number NYC95LA214
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name GILLET
Aircraft Model C.P. 328
Aircraft Series Identifier C.P. 328
Aircraft Serial Number 232
Certified Max Gross Weight 1540
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 1 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 20
Airframe Hours 239
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PATRICE B. GILLET
Aircraft Owner Street Address 46-16 21ST AVE
Aircraft Owner City ASTORIA
Aircraft Owner State NY
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 11105
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code FRG
Departure City FARMINGDALE
Departure State NY
Departure Country
Departure Time 1300
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --