Still And Video Images Do Not Show Any Anomalies With The
Airplane
The NTSB has released its preliminary report for the accident
last month which fatally injured the pilot of a North American
T-28C performing as part of the Trojan Horsemen aerobatic team. The
report does not indicate anything overtly wrong with the accident
aircraft based on high-definition still and video images captured
during the performance.
NTSB Identification: ERA11FA495
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, September 17, 2011 in Martinsburg,
WV
Aircraft: NORTH AMERICAN T-28C, registration: N688GR
Injuries: 1 Fatal.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may
contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when
the final report has been completed.
On September 17, 2011, about 1434 eastern daylight time, a North
American T-28C, N688GR, registered to and operated by a private
individual, collided with terrain during a low altitude aerobatic
maneuver being performed at Thunder Over the Blue Ridge Open House
and Air Show, at the Eastern WV Regional Airport/Shepherd Field
(MRB), Martinsburg, West Virginia. Visual meteorological conditions
prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code
of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 airshow flight. The airplane
sustained substantial damage, and the certificated airline
transport pilot, the sole occupant, was killed. The flight
originated from MRB about 1425.
The intended 15 minute airshow routine of the accident flight
consisted of six civilian airplanes. The accident occurred during
an opposing pass of two of the airplanes (N688GR and N28XT); there
was no damage to N28XT.
The pilot of N28XT who was flying in the No. 5 position reported
that he and the accident pilot were laterally displaced and flying
towards each other. Their flight paths were to cross at 300 feet
above ground level, and then both were to perform an aileron roll.
The pilot of N28XT was to roll to the right after crossing, while
the pilot of the accident airplane was to roll to the left after
crossing. The pilot of N28XT reported that after crossing and
before the next pass, he radioed the pilot of the accident airplane
because he did not observe him in the air but there was no
response. Another member of the team also attempted to communicate
with the pilot of the accident airplane but was unsuccessful. The
pilot of N28XT then flew over the airport and noted movement of
fire rescue vehicles but thought they were responding to a grass
fire until he observed the empennage of the accident airplane. He
informed the pilots of the other four airplanes of the crash, and
joined up with them in formation, then all diverted to a nearby
airport and landed uneventfully. The pilots of the other four
airplanes later reported they did not witness the accident sequence
prior to ground contact.
A military pilot who witnessed the accident sequence reported
seeing a clean separation of the eastbound and westbound aircraft
during the opposing pass. It appeared to the witness that both
aircraft pitched up about the same time to begin the aileron roll
maneuver; however, the eastbound aircraft (N28XT) appeared to pitch
up slightly higher than the accident airplane which was flying
westbound. The witness noted that the pilot of the accident
airplane initiated a roll to the left which he described as more
consistent with a slow barrel roll rather than an aileron roll. It
appeared to the witness that the roll slowed as it approached the
90 degree point and appeared to stop at that point. From this point
the airplane descended and impacted the ground.
Another military pilot familiar with aerobatic maneuvers
reported that he observed the accident airplane following the
opposing pass. He described seeing the initiation of an aileron
roll which in his opinion degraded into a barrel roll. From this
point the airplane descended and impacted the ground.
Still digital images, security camera video recordings, and a
high definition video recording of the opposing pass were provided
to NTSB for review and analysis. The video image recordings were
sent to the NTSB Vehicle Recorders laboratory for evaluation.
Preliminary examination of the high definition video recording
revealed it captured both airplanes at about the point where their
paths crossed, and continued recording the flight of the accident
airplane from that point to ground impact. The video recorded the
accident airplane pitching up and rolling left thru approximately
270 degrees; however, from about the inverted position, the
airplane began a nose-low descent which continued to ground impact
on airport property.
Further review of the video revealed no parts separating from
the accident airplane before ground impact. Additionally, video and
still digital images provided to NTSB depicting the bottom of the
airplane immediately before the accident did not reveal any open
panels.
The accident occurred during daylight conditions; there were no
ground injuries.