North American T 28C N531KG

Summary

On 19 September 2014 at about 21:10 local time, a North American T 28C registered N531KG, operated by Couch JON, was involved in an accident near Alton, Virginia, 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

19 September 2014 at 21:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Alton, Virginia, United States

Coordinates

36.5586, -79.2075

Aircraft

North American T 28C

Registration

N531KG

Category

Airplane

Year built

1954

Engines

1

Operator

Couch JON

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Easton → Danville

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA14FA445

2 people died.

The pilot’s failure to maintain altitude while performing low-level aerobatic maneuvers, which resulted in collision with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s improper decision to attempt aerobatics at such a low altitude.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

A witness, who was a friend of the pilot, was at an automobile racing facility and received a text message from the pilot that the airplane would fly over in 6 minutes. The accident airplane then performed a low pass over the area, reversed direction, and initiated a barrel roll during the second pass. Although the airplane started to climb before the barrel roll, video evidence indicates that it was only 100 feet above ground level, which was not high enough to complete the maneuver. The airplane subsequently collided with trees and terrain. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.