Indicates Jensen Recovered From An Inverted Spin Before
Impacting The Ground
The NTSB has released its preliminary report in the accident at
a Kansas City, MO airshow which fatally injured pilot Bryan Jensen.
The preliminary investigation is centering around a video of the
accident captured as he performed at the airshow at Charles B.
Wheeler Downtown Airport (KMKC).
File Photo
NTSB Identification: CEN11LA582
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, August 20, 2011 in Kansas City,
MO
Aircraft: VERTICAL UNLIMITED LLC 12, registration: N2BJ
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 August 20, 2011, at 1344 central daylight time, a Vertical
Unlimited LLC model 12 airplane, N2BJ, was substantially damaged
when it impacted terrain during an aerobatic air show performance
at Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport (MKC), Kansas City,
Missouri. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was
registered to Vertical Unlimited LLC and operated by the pilot. The
aerobatic exhibition (air show) flight was being conducted under
the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 and a
Certificate of Waiver issued for the air show. Visual
meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not
operated on a flight plan. The local exhibition flight originated
from MKC about 1315.
The pilot was performing an aerobatic routine during the Kansas
City Aviation Expo Air Show. A preliminary review of video of the
accident routine indicated that the pilot appeared to have
recovered from an inverted spin. The airplane began to pitch up
when it abruptly rolled to the left. The nose dropped and it
descended, impacting the ground. A postimpact fire ensued.
The accident pilot held an Airline Transport Pilot certificate
with single and multi-engine land airplane ratings. He also held a
current Acrobatic Competency card with a minimum altitude
limitation of 250 feet above ground level (agl).
The accident airplane was a single-place, aerobatic biplane. It
was issued an experimental exhibition category airworthiness
certificate in March 2009. The airplane was reportedly a modified
design based on the 2-place Pitts model 12 airplane. It was powered
by a 412-horsepower modified Vedeneyev M14P radial 9-cylinder
engine.
Weather conditions at MKC recorded about 6 minutes after the
accident included: wind from 100 degrees at 3 knots; 10 miles
visibility, with light rain; and scattered clouds at 10,000 feet
agl.