Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Tyler, Texas 75704
Tuesady, November 28, 2000 16:24 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

There were two pilots aboard the aircraft at the time of the accident, and the flying pilot could not be determined. According to friends of both pilots, the front seat pilot would demonstrate or "instruct" aerobatic maneuvers to the rear seat pilot/aircraft owner. According to two witnesses, the rear seat pilot/aircraft owner was conducting an "airshow" in the amateur-built aerobatic airplane for them. Another witness observed the airplane maneuvering below the clouds (which were reported to be 2,700 feet above the ground). This witness, who was an aerobatic flight instructor and former Naval aviator, stated that the pilot was conducting a hammerhead stall and flew "dangerously low" prior to disappearing behind trees and impacting the ground. The FAA inspector confirmed flight control continuity and noted that the propeller blades were twisted. The front seat pilot tested positive for citalopram, which is a prescription anti-depressant medication.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's performance of aerobatic maneuvers at a low altitude and his failure to maintain terrain clearance.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/28/2000
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1624
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City TYLER
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 75704
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 11
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 1616 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 270
Weather Observation Facility ID TYR
Elevation of weather observation facility 544
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 6
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2700
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 70
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 61
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 150
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
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 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 10604
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Nov 28 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1735
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Sep 27 2001 3:26PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N83007
NTSB Number FTW01LA029
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 Landes/Karich/Schmidt
Aircraft Model CHRISTEN EAGLE II
Aircraft Series Identifier CHRISTEN E
Aircraft Serial Number LAN/KAR0001
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600
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 May 3 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 60
Airframe Hours 1618
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name STAN A. LAUGHLIN
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1405 TROUP HIGHWAY
Aircraft Owner City TYLER
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 75701
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code TYR
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1600
Departure Time Zone CST
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 Sep 7 2001 4:00AM
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 --