Birchler Boyd EAGLE 540 N34BJ

Summary

On 9 June 2012 at about 20:00 local time, a Birchler Boyd EAGLE 540 registered N34BJ, operated by Billy Werth Airshows, LLC, was involved in an accident near Kokomo, Indiana, 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

9 June 2012 at 20:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Kokomo, Indiana, United States

Nearest airport

Kokomo Municipal Airport (KOKK)

Coordinates

40.5219, -86.0547

Aircraft

Birchler Boyd EAGLE 540

Registration

N34BJ

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Billy Werth Airshows, LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Air Race/Show

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Kokomo → Kokomo

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN12CA360

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from the trees during a low-level aerobatic maneuver.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot planned to depart the runway and then turn left toward a row of trees for an aerobatic demonstration at a local air show. At a set distance from the trees, his plan was to roll the airplane inverted and then climb away from the trees. However, during the performance, he realized that the airplane wasn’t going to clear the trees. The pilot stated that he tried to increase the airplane’s climb angle, but the airplane struck the trees. The pilot continued the airplane’s climb and returned to the airfield for a landing. The airplane sustained substantial damage to its wings and horizontal stabilizer during the collision with the trees. The pilot reported that the primary cause of the accident was “misjudgment in distance” and “pilot error.” He also indicated that the wind was occasionally gusty, but he was unable to ascertain whether that was a factor.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.