Neal CHRISTEN EAGLE II N3RN

Summary

On 17 August 1990 at about 00:30 local time, a Neal CHRISTEN EAGLE II registered N3RN, operated by Moody/Linebarger, was involved in an accident near Akron, Alabama, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 August 1990 at 00:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Akron, Alabama, United States

Coordinates

32.8706, -87.7303

Aircraft

Neal CHRISTEN EAGLE II

Registration

N3RN

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Moody/Linebarger

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Clanton → Eutaw

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA90FA171

2 people died.

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND TO RECOVER FROM (OR AVOID) A SUBSEQUENT (FLAT) SPIN. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW ESTABLISHED PROCEDURES, HIS LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE AIRCRAFT, AND THE LACK OF SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO RECOVER FROM THE SPIN.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

WITNESSES RPRTD THAT BEFORE THE ACDNT, THE ACFT WAS BETWEEN 400 & 1000 FT AGL IN STRAIGHT & LEVEL FLIGHT. IT WAS OBSERVED TO ENTER A ROLL TO THE RIGHT. AFTER ROLLING INVERTED, THE ACFT ENTERED A SPIN. THE ENG WAS HEARD TO REV UP AS THE ACFT CONTINUED INTO A FLAT SPIN. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN & WAS DESTROYED. THE FLT MANUAL STATED THAT AEROBATIC FLT WAS NOT TO BE PERFORMED BELOW 1500 FT AGL; A MIN ALT OF 3000 FT TO 5000 FT AGL WAS RECOMMENDED FOR AEROBATIC FLT. THE PLT HAD ONLY ABOUT 14 HRS IN THIS MAKE/MODEL OF ACFT. THE BAGGAGE COMPARTMENT CONTAINED A PARACHUTE CANOPY, THOUGH IT WAS TO BE EMPTY FOR AEROBATIC FLT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.