National Transportaion Safety Board
Accident Synopsis
NTSB Identification: DEN88FA062
The docket is stored on NTSB microfiche number 35829.
Accident occurred Wednesday, February 03, 1988 in BRIGHTON, CO
Probable Cause Approval Date: 04/25/1989
Aircraft: PIPER PA-18-125, registration: N1153A
Injuries: 1 Fatal.NTSB investigators either traveled in support of this investigation or conducted a significant amount of investigative work without any travel, and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS OBSERVED BY WITNESSES TO 'BUZZ' THE CITY OF BRIGHTON, COLORADO. WITNESSES STATED THAT N1153A FLEW OVER HOUSES AND BUILDINGS AT A VERY LOW ALTITUDE. THE ACFT WAS THEN OBSERVED TO CLIMB TO A HIGH ALTITUDE, DO A 'WING OVER' OR 'HAMMERHEAD' MANUEVER, THEN DESCEND IN A NEAR VERTICAL, NOSE DOWN ALTITUDE. THE ACFT REMAINED IN THAT ATTITUDE UNTIL GROUND IMPACT. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF A MECH MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF THE ACFT PRIOR TO THE IMPACT. THE STUDENT HAD WRITTEN A LTR TO A GIRLFRIEND EXPRESSING HIS 'UNBELIEVABLE TALENT FOR FLYING.' THE PILOT HAD A TOTAL FLIGHT TIME OF 18 HOURS.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
Contributing Factors:
The docket is stored on NTSB microfiche number 35829.
Accident occurred Wednesday, February 03, 1988 in BRIGHTON, CO
Probable Cause Approval Date: 04/25/1989
Aircraft: PIPER PA-18-125, registration: N1153A
Injuries: 1 Fatal.NTSB investigators either traveled in support of this investigation or conducted a significant amount of investigative work without any travel, and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS OBSERVED BY WITNESSES TO 'BUZZ' THE CITY OF BRIGHTON, COLORADO. WITNESSES STATED THAT N1153A FLEW OVER HOUSES AND BUILDINGS AT A VERY LOW ALTITUDE. THE ACFT WAS THEN OBSERVED TO CLIMB TO A HIGH ALTITUDE, DO A 'WING OVER' OR 'HAMMERHEAD' MANUEVER, THEN DESCEND IN A NEAR VERTICAL, NOSE DOWN ALTITUDE. THE ACFT REMAINED IN THAT ATTITUDE UNTIL GROUND IMPACT. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF A MECH MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF THE ACFT PRIOR TO THE IMPACT. THE STUDENT HAD WRITTEN A LTR TO A GIRLFRIEND EXPRESSING HIS 'UNBELIEVABLE TALENT FOR FLYING.' THE PILOT HAD A TOTAL FLIGHT TIME OF 18 HOURS.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
- AEROBATICS..PERFORMED..PILOT IN COMMAND
- FLIGHT CONTROLS..IMPROPER USE OF..PILOT IN COMMAND
Contributing Factors:
- OVERCONFIDENCE IN PERSONAL ABILITY..PILOT IN COMMAND
- LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE..PILOT IN COMMAND
