Wonder Michael S HARMON ROCKET N85TP

Summary

On 11 June 2023 at about 19:06 local time, a Wonder Michael S HARMON ROCKET registered N85TP was involved in an accident near Porter, New York, 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

11 June 2023 at 19:06

Classification

Accident

Location

Porter, New York, United States

Nearest airport

Shear (63NY)

Coordinates

43.2646, -78.9662

Aircraft

Wonder Michael S HARMON ROCKET

Registration

N85TP

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Niagara Falls

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA23FA266

1 person died.

The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane while initiating a low-altitude aerobatic maneuver, which resulted in impact with trees and terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s high-risk behavior.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to witnesses, the pilot took off and performed a 180° descending turn back toward the airport. He then flew a high-speed, low altitude pass along the runway before pulling up and descending into the trees. One witness reported that the airplane appeared to enter a roll as it descended into the trees near the end of the runway. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of a preimpact mechanical malfunction or failure that would have precluded normal operation. Metallurgical examination of a propeller blade tip that its separation from the propeller blade was likely the result of impact-related damage. Witnesses who knew the pilot and frequently saw him take off stated that after takeoff he typically made a 180° turn, and flew a high-speed low pass over the airport before climbing and entering a barrel roll. The pilot’s routine performance of high-speed flyovers and low-altitude aerobatics was indicative of high-risk behavior. Based on the available information, the pilot likely lost control of the airplane while performing an aerobatic maneuver at an altitude too low to recover.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.