Extra Flugzeugbau EA-300L N18NL

Summary

On 12 October 2003 at about 21:10 local time, a Extra Flugzeugbau EA-300L registered N18NL, operated by Lynn Aviation, was involved in an accident near Queen Anne, Maryland, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

12 October 2003 at 21:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Queen Anne, Maryland, United States

Nearest airport

Bay Bridge (W29)

Coordinates

38.9308, -76.0008

Aircraft

Extra Flugzeugbau EA-300L

Registration

N18NL

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Lynn Aviation

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Stevensville → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC04LA006

1 person died.

The pilot's performance of aerobatic maneuvers with positive and negative Gs, which resulted in a G induced loss of control, and uncontrolled impact with the ground.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot departed on a solo aerobatic practice flight, and returned after about 45 minutes. Three hours later, he departed on his second aerobatic practice flight. The airplane was next observed about 25 minutes later in a near vertical descent, about 100 feet above the ground. No smoke or vapors were observed trailing from the airplane, and it was not turning or rotating. The airplane impacted in an open field, and the back side of the engine was found 18 inches below the surface of the ground. No problems were found with the airframe; however, it was highly fragmented, and the investigation was inconclusive. The pilot had recently won an aerobatic competition at the Sportsman level and working on improving his abilities to the Intermediate level. Prior to departure he was observed reviewing a list of proposed aerobatic maneuvers used in competition. He was then observed walking to the airplane, carrying hand drawn sketches of aerobatic maneuvers. The owner reported that a pilot would normally work from pre-printed cards for either the compulsory maneuvers, or elective maneuvers in the free flight program. The pilot's aerobatic flight instructor reported that she had instructed the pilot on the hazards of mixing high positive and negative G maneuvers. In addition, FAA Advisory Circular 91-61 - "A Hazard In Aerobatics: Effects Of G Forces On Pilots", discussed the problems with high G load, and the particular hazard of mixing together successive positive and negative Gs. The actual maneuver(s) the pilot was practicing were not determined; however, the descent and impact were consistent with a G induced loss of control (GLOC.).

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.