Jordan Bruce C PITTS S2E N30BJ

Summary

On 8 March 2017 at about 20:37 local time, a Jordan Bruce C PITTS S2E registered N30BJ was involved in an accident near Apex, North Carolina, 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

8 March 2017 at 20:37

Classification

Accident

Location

Apex, North Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Cox Airport (NC81)

Coordinates

35.7522, -78.8644

Aircraft

Jordan Bruce C PITTS S2E

Registration

N30BJ

Category

Airplane

Year built

2009

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Apex → Apex

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA17FA123

1 person died.

The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during the final approach to the runway in gusting tailwind conditions, which resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was returning to the airport from a local personal flight in the airplane. The airplane approached runway 9 at an angle before rolling inverted, descending, and impacting terrain, consistent with an aerodynamic stall. A review of weather conditions revealed that, on final approach, the airplane likely experienced a tailwind of about 9 knots with wind gusts as high as 20 knots. Pilots familiar with the airport reported that, due to the slope of the runway, pilots preferred to land on runway 9 unless there was a tailwind of more than 10 knots. Postaccident examination of the airplane and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operations. It is likely that, while maneuvering on final approach to the runway with a gusting tailwind, the pilot failed to maintain control of the airplane, which resulted in the exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.