Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Texas City, Texas 77590
Sunday, December 19, 2004 12:42 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

A witness located adjacent to the accident site reported observing the 370-hour private pilot flying inverted at an altitude of approximately 50 feet above ground level for a distance of 250 yards. As the pilot attempted to roll the airplane upright, one of the wings impacted the ground. Examination of the airframe did not reveal any anomalies that could have contributed to the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with terrain while performing aerobatics at a low altitude.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/19/2004
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1242
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City Texas City
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 77590
Event Date Year 2004
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 292502N
Event Location Longitude 0945953W
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 Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1252 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 160
Weather Observation Facility ID GLS
Elevation of weather observation facility 6
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 13
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 350
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.36
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 17724
NTSB Notification Source FAA Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date Dec 19 2004 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1520
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jun 8 2005 12:51PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Houston, Texas

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N992RS
NTSB Number DFW05LA041
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name American Champion Aircraft
Aircraft Model 8KCAB
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 685-92
Certified Max Gross Weight 1800
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
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 Nov 16 2004 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 15.4
Airframe Hours 4754.8
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DE Aviation Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 101 Airport Blvd
Aircraft Owner City La Porte
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 77571
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Harvey and Rihn Aviation
Operator Same as Owner? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 No
Departure Airport Code T41
Departure City La Porte
Departure State TX
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1215
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? No
Evacuation occurred Yes
Date of most recent change to record Apr 6 2005 5:01PM
User who most recently changed record CASH
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --