Yak 55M Impacts After Near-Vertical Descent

The Sunday performances at the Stevens Point Air Show were shut down after an airshow performance resulted in a fatal accident.

Following a maneuver over an adjacent tree line, a 1993 Yak 55M appears to have impacted in a near vertical attitude (possibly as the result of a descending spin/spitral) resulting in the loss of the pilot. The 1230 (Local Time) accident shut down the show immediately thereafter.

ANN has learned that the pilot of the Yak 55M was former F-16 pilot and current airline pilot, Bill Cowden (47), a native of Wisconsin. Cowden boasted significant background and expertise from both his civilian and military careers and had been flying airshows for a number of years.

In a 2012 interview with 'The Sun', Cowden noted that "I always had that desire to fly upside down. I still get a thrill with it. Flying in general is very precision based and there is never a flight that will be perfect, so I’m always striving for that perfection."

NTSB investigators were dispatched to investigate this accident.

Cowden had developed extensive expertise with the Yak 55M. The Yak 55M is an all-metal single seat monoplane powered by a single 360HP Vendenyev M14P radial engine. The "M" variant boasted a slightly shorter wingspan than its predecessor in order to offer a more aggressive roll rate and added aerobatic abilities. Over 100 55Ms were built and many are still used in competition and airshow flying all over the world ... they are considered to still be a viable unlimited aerobatic performer while the overall handling of the aircraft, as noted by ANN's Jim Campbell, is "exceptionally well harmonized and the overall package makes for an extremely agile airplane."

FMI: www.facebook.com/bill.cowden.560#!/bill.cowden.560?fref=ts