Louttit CELEBRITY N729BL

Summary

On 17 September 1997 at about 14:15 local time, a Louttit CELEBRITY registered N729BL was involved in an accident near Ridgeland, South Carolina, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 September 1997 at 14:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Ridgeland, South Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Ridgeland (3J1)

Coordinates

32.4791, -80.9806

Aircraft

Louttit CELEBRITY

Registration

N729BL

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA97LA245

Nobody was injured.

the in-flight failure of the upper wing spar wood resulting in a forced landing in swampy terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While maneuvering the airplane through aerobatic loops, and after completing five successfully, the pilot said he was at the bottom of the sixth loop when he heard a 'loud noise.' He then saw the top fabric was ripped aft, and he could see the fabric aft of the trailing edge. He turned the airplane towards the airport in attempt to land on runway 03. The pilot stated that it took full engine power to maintain a 1,500 feet per minute rate of descent. He intended to land on the grass on the side of the runway, but could not make the field and was forced to land in a swamp with overgrown with vines, and 4 to 5 feet deep water. There was a 'G' meter on the airplane and the pilot said during the loop the meter was indicating 3.4. The meter was rated at 4.0 and was tested at 6.0. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the wood forward of both upper wing spars had failed.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.