Hispano Aviacion HA-200 N611HA

Summary

On 12 June 2004 at about 13:17 local time, a Hispano Aviacion HA-200 registered N611HA was involved in an accident near Pueblo, Colorado, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

12 June 2004 at 13:17

Classification

Accident

Location

Pueblo, Colorado, United States

Nearest airport

Pueblo Memorial (PUB)

Coordinates

38.2833, -104.5053

Aircraft

Hispano Aviacion HA-200

Registration

N611HA

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Pueblo → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DEN04LA089

1 person died.

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed resulting in an accelerated stall at an altitude too low for recovery. A factor was the pilot's lack of experience in the aircraft make and model.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The purpose of the flight was to take ground photographs of the airplane in flight for a promotional brochure that was being prepared for the upcoming air show season. Witnesses saw the airplane make what appeared to be a normal takeoff, lifting off about halfway down the 4,073-foot runway. It then rolled steeply to the left and the nose fell through the horizon. The airplane struck the ground, exploded, and burned. Based on pictures and wreckage proximity to the runway, the pilot's HA-200 flight instructor said he doubted the airplane could have climbed more than 200-300 feet, and speed would have been no more than 130-140 knots. According to his flight instructor, this speed would allow for shallow turns. If, however, the airplane were to make a steep bank, as witnesses described, a 180-knot airspeed would be required to sustain a 60-degree bank. If the airplane stalled, it would always roll towards the low wing. With its "almost perfect c.g. (center of gravity)," the airplane would recover from an accelerated stall after the pilot unloaded the wings. The instructor said the pilot "flew well, flew safe, and had a good command authority for his new jet. I was impressed with his command ability and attention to detail." He was "above average...an aggressive pilot in command, [who] knew the aircraft systems well." Around the fifth hour of instruction, the pilot expressed his desire to do some aerobatics. The instructor told him that "low level air show work had huge unforgiving risks involved," and that "aerobatics was totally out of the question." The instructor asked him to demonstrate a barrel roll at 12,000 feet. The instructor said that during the maneuver, the pilot lost 6,000 feet and rolled out 70 degrees off heading. The instructor then demonstrated a Cuban-8. The lesson ended by the instructor advising the pilot not to perform aerobatics in the HA-200. He suggested that he take basic aerobatic instruction in a slower, more forgiving airplane. The pilot said he would seek another instructor. The engines were later disassembled and inspected. No discrepancies were noted. Autopsy and toxicological protocols were unremarkable.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.