Warner Aerocraft SPACE WALKER II N1778

Summary

On 27 February 2019 at about 22:38 local time, a Warner Aerocraft SPACE WALKER II registered N1778 was involved in an accident near Devine, Texas, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

27 February 2019 at 22:38

Classification

Accident

Location

Devine, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Private Airstrip (N/A)

Coordinates

29.2750, -98.8775

Aircraft

Warner Aerocraft SPACE WALKER II

Registration

N1778

Category

Airplane

Year built

2018

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Castroville → Castroville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN19LA087

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane while maneuvering at a low altitude, 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 conducting a personal fight over his private airstrip when the airplane collided with trees while in a descent to make a low pass over the runway. The forward fuselage and left wing sustained substantial damage during the accident. The pilot does not recall the final portion of the flight besides a brief memory of the airplane descending toward trees in a 90° nose-down pitch attitude. The pilot does not recall if the airplane had any mechanical malfunctions during the flight. A witness reported hearing a reduction in engine power shortly before the accident; however, based on the pilot’s statement, it is likely that he had reduced engine power to descend toward the runway for a low pass. Additionally, an examination of the airplane and its engine did not reveal any evidence of mechanical malfunction that would have precluded normal operation. Based upon the pilot’s recollection that the airplane was in a vertical nose-down descent, it is likely the airplane exceeded its critical angle of attack while maneuvering near the runway, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and collision with trees and terrain.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.