Camarillo Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Fillmore, California 93015
Saturday, June 11, 2005 17:00 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The aerobatic experimental airplane impacted terrain when the pilot was unable to recover from an intentional inverted flat spin. According to the pilot's written statement, he intentionally entered the airplane into a left turning inverted flat spin after practicing other aerobatic maneuvers. The pilot tried several recommended recovery methods; however, the airplane did not exit from the spin. The pilot elected to bailout of the airplane. The pilot's parachute opened successfully and he landed approximately 50 feet from where the airplane impacted the ground. The pilot reported experiencing no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane during the accident flight.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's failure to affect timely recovery from an intentional inverted flat spin.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/11/2005
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1700
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Fillmore
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 93015
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 342300N
Event Location Longitude 1185900W
Event Location Airport Camarillo
Event Location Nearest Airport ID CMA
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 4
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1655 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 200
Weather Observation Facility ID CMA
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
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) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 230
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.77
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 18305
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Jun 12 2005 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Sep 13 2005 12:54PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Van Nuys

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N647J
NTSB Number LAX05CA200
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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 Aviat
Aircraft Model Pitts S-1T
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 1027
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft --
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed --
ELT Activated --
ELT Aided Location of Event Site --
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name James McNamara
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City --
Aircraft Owner State --
Aircraft Owner Country --
Aircraft Owner Zipcode --
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name James McNamara
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Camarillo
Operator State CA
Operator Country USA
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 --
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code CMA
Departure City Camarillo
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1635
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code CMA
Destination City Camarillo
Destination State CA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 9 2005 12:43PM
User who most recently changed record COOS
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --