Yet another Airshow Incident

[patrickal]

Unfortunately I just witnessed another fatal airshow accident at Stewart Airport (KSWF) in Newburgh, NY. It took place during a practice session for a two day show which starts tomorrow. The aircraft was G202 carbon fiber aerobatic airplane. From what I witnessed, the aircraft was pulling a high-g pullup when a significant portion of the tail of the aircraft broke away from the rest of the fuselage. The aircraft continued to climb, the then rolled inverted and crashed vertically into a vehicle storage area about 1000 feet behind the spectator line. There has been no release of information regarding the ID or condition of the pilot as of yet. No word either on whether or not the airshow will continue as planned. I will post more if I learn anything else. Not a pleasant thing to see at all.

[Airbubba]

Here is more on this latest fatal airshow mishap:

Pilot dies in small plane crash at Stewart Airport

State police say a pilot has died Friday after his propeller-driven stunt plane crashed while he was practicing tricks for a weekend air show at Stewart International Airport.

KELLY MARSH/FOR THE TIMES HERALD-By Michael Randall and The Associated Press

Posted Aug. 28, 2015 at 2:36 PM
Updated at 3:23 PM

UPDATE (3:10 p.m.): NEW WINDSOR - State police say a pilot has died Friday after his propeller-driven stunt plane crashed while he was practicing tricks for a weekend air show at Stewart International Airport.

Trooper Steven Nevel said the accident happened around 2 p.m. Friday at the airport, where the New York Air Show is scheduled to take place this weekend.

The pilot was the only person in the plane. His name wasn't immediately released.

Orange County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus, the County’s Department of Emergency Services, the state police and the Federal Aviation Administration are on the scene of the accident.

Practice for the day has been canceled.

A woman at the air show box office said the show will go on as scheduled.

Pilot dies in small plane crash at Stewart Airport - News - recordonline.com - Middletown, NY

An overhead chopper picture of the scene in this article:

Pilot practicing for air show dies in crash at Stewart Airport | News 12 Hudson Valley

[Airbubba]

Unconfirmed early report that the aircraft down was a Giles G-202.

[DaveReidUK]

Originally Posted by Airbubba

Unconfirmed early report that the aircraft down was a Giles G-202.

Yes, as mentioned in the first post.

Confirmed by FAA:

A Cornell W F/Sahakian JA Jr. Giles G 202 experimental aircraft crashed shortly after it departed from Stewart International Airport in Newburgh, NY at about 2 p.m. today. Check with local authorities on the condition of the pilot, the only person onboard. The pilot of the aircraft was scheduled to participate in an airshow at Stewart Airport this weekend. The FAA will investigate and the NTSB will determine probable cause.

Cornell W F/Sahkian JA Jr is the aircraft manufacturer; the Giles G 202 is the aircraft model.

Plane practicing for New York Air Show crashes near Stewart Airport in Orange County, killing pilot | abc7ny.com

[Airbubba]

Yes, as mentioned in the first post.

Thanks Dave, I saw that elsewhere, missed it here.

I believe I recognize the plane and know of the performer.

[mike734]

From the video it looks like it continued to climb for about 12 seconds. It then took another 12 to hit the ground. I would have thought he had time to bail out. Maybe he was knocked out? Anyone know if there is any ATC communication?

[patrickal]

Mike, I am not sure what video you saw, but there was no where near 24 seconds between the time the tail came off and the time he crashed. And I had the tower frequency dialed in and heard no communications at all. I realize time compresses when something like this happens, but it did happen quickly. We (my dad, brother, son, and two nephews) all thought he had dropped something from the plane as part of the show. I would say from that point till the crash was maybe 7 - 10 seconds at best.

[Tarq57]

Originally Posted by mike734

From the video it looks like it continued to climb for about 12 seconds. It then took another 12 to hit the ground. I would have thought he had time to bail out. Maybe he was knocked out? Anyone know if there is any ATC communication?

That assumes he was wearing a chute.

Even if he was, very little time available to use it.

[Airbubba]

The pilot's website:

Carbon Fiber Airshows

[DownWest]

Thought it was obligatory in the US to wear chutes if doing aeros. Not that it would have probably helped here.

[Pontius]

He's wearing one in the video on his website, so I can't imagine why he wouldn't be doing so during his show/practice; fight as you train and all that good stuff.

Looks to me like he performed a good display and it's a great shame the guy was put in an impossible situation.

[susier]

'The G202, designed by Richard Giles in the late 1990s, is an all-carbon-fiber experimental aircraft purpose built for unlimited aerobatics. The airframe is extremely light, weighing only 1000 pounds, and extremely strong, with load limit of +/- 10 G. This combination of lightness and strength enables the G202 to execute tight maneuvers at high speeds, and powered by a four cylinder 238 horsepower Lycoming engine, it is faster and more maneuverable than many more powerful aerobatic aircraft. Its 22 foot wingspan, combined with full span ailerons, yields a roll rate in excess of 500 degrees per second, making it the fastest rolling aircraft on the airshow circuit. The custom smoke system pumps out a massive smoke trail at all flight attitudes, and the color-changing purple/teal/green/gold striped paint scheme makes it a favorite on the ramp for photos.'


Source: Carbon Fiber website/info

[DaveReidUK]

Aircraft involved, in happier times:



RIP.

[A Squared]

Originally Posted by patrickal

Mike, I am not sure what video you saw, but there was no where near 24 seconds between the time the tail came off and the time he crashed. And I had the tower frequency dialed in and heard no communications at all. I realize time compresses when something like this happens, but it did happen quickly. We (my dad, brother, son, and two nephews) all thought he had dropped something from the plane as part of the show. I would say from that point till the crash was maybe 7 - 10 seconds at best.

Using the time in the control bar of the video in the above linked article it looks like about 10-11 seconds from tail separation to impact. Not sure where the 24 seconds comes from.

[DaveReidUK]

Circumstances sound very similar to the July 2001 accident involving a French G-202: empennage detached at 1500' during an aerobatic sortie, aircraft impacted the ground some 10 seconds later, pilot did not have sufficient time to deploy his parachute.

The BEA report identified the probable cause as failure of the glue/bonding used in final assembly of the kit-built aircraft.

[blakmax]

link to report?

The BEA report identified the probable cause as failure of the glue/bonding used in final assembly of the kit-built aircraft.

Any chance of a link to that report?

Regards

Blakmax

[Encyclo]

BEA Report Link

Here is a link to the French agency link.

http://www.bea.aero/docspa/2001/f-ux...f-ux010721.pdf

RIP

Fly Safe, Always

[joe two]

ground this type until paperwork is done ,
then put it in category N , U .

[ATPMBA]

Seems like Low-Level aerobatics catches up with everyone.

There are old pilots and low-level aerobatic pilots but there are no old low-level aerobatic pilots.

[Airbubba]

ground this type until paperwork is done ,
then put it in category N , U .

What does this mean? I'm not familiar with these designations. Thanks.

There are old pilots and low-level aerobatic pilots but there are no old low-level aerobatic pilots.

I would offer Gene Soucy and Patty Wagstaff as a couple of fairly senior counterexamples.

It is indeed a deadly business though and fate is the hunter.