Schoepflin DA-4-550 N550YS

Summary

On 9 September 2012 at about 00:00 local time, a Schoepflin DA-4-550 registered N550YS, operated by Humble, William R., was involved in an accident near Viola, Idaho, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

9 September 2012 at 00:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Viola, Idaho, United States

Coordinates

46.8294, -116.9981

Aircraft

Schoepflin DA-4-550

Registration

N550YS

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Humble, William R.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Moscow → Moscow

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR12LA410

1 person died.

The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control while maneuvering, resulting in an aerodynamic stall/spin with insufficient altitude to recover.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot had been hired to do a flyby over a gathering at a private residence. Witnesses reported that the pilot was flying low, about 800 feet above ground level, over a large crowd. The airplane appeared to be in slow flight, and as it started to circle the group, the pilot began dropping streamers from the airplane. The airplane subsequently entered into a steep turn, and the airplane stalled and spun to the ground. Witnesses also reported that the engine was running and sounded "strong" throughout the accident sequence. After ground impact, a fire started and destroyed the majority of the airplane. A postimpact examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.