American AA-1A N61VT

Summary

On 26 August 2013 at about 20:30 local time, a American AA-1A registered N61VT, operated by Michael Cyr, was involved in an accident near Desert Center, California, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

26 August 2013 at 20:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Desert Center, California, United States

Coordinates

33.3800, -115.3650

Aircraft

American AA-1A

Registration

N61VT

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Michael Cyr

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Desert Center → Desert Center

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR13FA388

2 people died.

The pilot's abrupt maneuver, which resulted in an accelerated stall and a loss of airplane control at low altitude.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was on an aerial photography mission during day visual flight rules conditions. A witness located near the accident site reported that he saw the airplane about 1,000 ft above the ground when it made a sharp, 180-degree turn. The airplane's wings then dipped side-to-side, and he could see the top and bottom of the airplane. The airplane's nose started to move down, and it then abruptly moved back up while the airplane proceeded in an easterly direction. The airplane entered a second nosedive and then rolled 180 degrees counterclockwise before it crashed. Several witnesses reported hearing the engine stop, pop, or sputter at some point in their observations of the airplane. However, postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Based on the airplane's observed attitude while maneuvering, it is likely that the pilot entered an accelerated stall and subsequent loss of airplane control from which he did not recover. Although toxicological testing detected the sedating antihistamine diphenhydramine in the pilot's liver, insufficient evidence existed to determine whether pilot impairment from the medication contributed to the accident.  

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.