Witness Says Pilot Did Not Appear To Attempt To Recover From Spin

The NTSB has released its preliminary report from the May 30th accident that destroyed an SNJ-2 aircraft flown by the Geico Skytypers, resulting in the fatal injury of the pilot.

According to the report, the airplane impacted terrain following a loss of control shortly after takeoff from Republic Airport (KFRG), Farmingdale, New York.

A flight instructor, who was in the airport traffic pattern for runway 14, reported that he observed the number 5 airplane and number 6 (accident airplane) depart in formation to the northeast without incident. The instructor stated that he saw the number 5 airplane initiate a climbing right 180° turn, similar to a chandelle maneuver, from an altitude of about 800 feet above ground level (agl). He estimated that throughout the turn, the bank angle of the airplane was about 70° to 80°, until it reached an altitude of about 1,200 feet agl. The instructor further reported that he observed the number 6 airplane conduct the same maneuver, however, at the top of the turn, the airplane entered a spin, and remained in a constant rate spin, until it descended into terrain. The instructor added that it appeared that no attempt to recover had been initiated.

The pilot of the lead airplane (number 1) who was holding northeast of the airport, stated that his rear seated passenger observed the accident airplane pass underneath their holding area and make a climbing "high-G" turn to the left. The airplane subsequently entered a spin and spiraled to the ground.

A video provided by a witness located near the accident site captured the airplane in a steep nose-down attitude, rotating around its vertical axis, until impacting the ground.

Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane impacted trees and terrain in a vertical, nose-down attitude. Wreckage debris field was contained to within 50ft of the main wreckage. A post-impact fire consumed most of the left wing, cabin and aft fuselage. The wreckage was recovered to a secure facility for further examination.

(Source: NTSB. Image from file)

FMI: app.ntsb.gov/pdfgenerator/ReportGeneratorFile.ashx?EventID=20180530X50125&AKey=1&RType=HTML&IType=FA