Yakovlev YAK 52 N5C

Summary

On 6 August 2002 at about 22:15 local time, a Yakovlev YAK 52 registered N5C was involved in an accident near Aledo, Texas, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

6 August 2002 at 22:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Aledo, Texas, United States

Coordinates

32.7992, -97.5769

Aircraft

Yakovlev YAK 52

Registration

N5C

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Fort Worth → Fort Worth

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW02LA230

2 people died.

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane while performing aerobatics. A contributing factor was the performance of aerobatic maneuvers with low altitude.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

Witnesses observed the airplane performing a series of aerobatic maneuvers at an approximate altitude of 100-300 feet agl, and descend in a near vertical attitude. The airplane came to rest upright in a shallow crater near a residential area where a post impact fire ensued. Examination of the empennage section of the airplane revealed two marks were found on the aft topside section of the bellcrank housing; however, no evidence was found of any foreign objects that would have restricted the operation of the flight controls. Both wings leading edge were crushed aft from the wing root out to the wing tip. All of the aircrafts flight controls located within the accident site. Flight control continuity was established to the left and right aileron, and to elevator and rudder flight control surfaces. Examination of the empennage section of the airplane revealed two marks were found on the aft topside section of the bellcrank housing; however, no evidence was found of any foreign objects that would of prohibited operation of the flight controls.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.