Council Bluffs Muni Airpt Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Council Bluffs, Iowa 50503
Monday, September 7, 1992 14:32 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT OF THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE WAS PERFORMING A LOW LEVEL AEROBATIC ROUTINE AT AN AIRSHOW. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE ENTER A FLAT SPIN FOLLOWING A VERTICAL CLIMB. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE SPIN ROTATION BUT WAS UNABLE TO RETURN TO LEVEL FORWARD FLIGHT BEFORE COLLIDING WITH TERRAIN.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL WHILE MANEUVERING DURING AEROBATIC FLIGHT.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/7/1992
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1432
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City COUNCIL BLUFFS
Event State IOWA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 50503
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport COUNCIL BLUFFS MUNI AIRPT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID CBF
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 1269
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1352 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 1
Weather Observation Facility ID OMA
Elevation of weather observation facility 1269
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 2900
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 19
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 320
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 2349
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 703
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 7 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1432
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 48116
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 3:18PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N90LB
NTSB Number CHI92DCD10
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CURT HOFFSTAD
Aircraft Model PITTS S1-S
Aircraft Series Identifier PITTS S1-S
Aircraft Serial Number CH1977
Certified Max Gross Weight 1150
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 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 30 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 12
Airframe Hours 616
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PARMLEY AVIATION
Aircraft Owner Street Address COUNCIL BLUFFS MUNICIPAL AIRPT
Aircraft Owner City COUNCIL BLUFFS
Aircraft Owner State IA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 51505
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name PARMLEY AVIATION
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address COUNCIL BLUFFS MUNICIPAL AIRPT
Operator City COUNCIL BLUFFS
Operator State IA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 51505
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code CBF
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1415
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code CBF
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 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 31
Runway Length 4100
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --