Incident Overview

Date: Thursday 29 April 1993
Aircraft Type: Beechcraft C99
Owner/operator: GP Express Airlines
Registration Number: N115GP
Location: Shelton, NE – ÿ United States of America
Phase of Flight: Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.)
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: / Occupants: 2
Component Affected: The aircraft itself, specifically the left wing and the overall flight stability during the aeroball maneuver.The aircraft itself, specifically the left wing and the overall flight stability during the aeroball maneuver.
Investigating Agency: NTSBNTSB
Category: Accident
A flight, a six-month proficiency check for a pilot in the left seat, experienced a near-miss due to a deliberate disregard for Federal Aviation Regulations. The pilot initiated an unauthorized aeroball maneuver, resulting in a nose-down impact. Evidence of this maneuver was documented in a grade sheet found in the pilot’s mailbox. The incident is attributed to a failure of GP Express management to prioritize safety and professional conduct.A flight, a six-month proficiency check for a pilot in the left seat, experienced a near-miss due to a deliberate disregard for Federal Aviation Regulations. The pilot initiated an unauthorized aeroball maneuver, resulting in a nose-down impact. Evidence of this maneuver was documented in a grade sheet found in the pilot’s mailbox. The incident is attributed to a failure of GP Express management to prioritize safety and professional conduct.

Description

THE FLIGHT WAS A PART 135 SIX-MONTH PROFICIENCY CHECK FOR THE PILOT IN THE LEFT SEAT. BOTH PILOTS WERE CHECK AIRMEN FOR THE COMMUTER AIR CARRIER. THE FLIGHT TOOK OFF AT 2343 AFTER CESSATION OF COMPANY REVENUE OPERATIONS. THE COCKPIT VOICE RECORDER RECORDED CONVERSATION OF BOTH PILOTS DISCUSSING AEROBATICS. THE PILOT IN THE LEFT SEAT STARTED TO DESCRIBE THE PERFORMANCE OF A PROHIBITED MANEUVER (APPARENTLY A BARREL ROLL). THE RECORDING ENDED BEFORE DESCRIPTION OF THE MANEUVER WAS COMPLETED. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED IN A NOSE LEVEL ATTITUDE WITH THE LEFT WING SLIGHTLY DOWN. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THE MANEUVER WAS PERFORMED AT AN ALTITUDE INSUFFICIENT TO ASSURE RECOVERY OF THE AIRPLANE. A FILLED OUT GRADE SHEET FOR THE FLIGHT BEING FLOWN WAS FOUND IN THE CHECK AIRMAN’S MAILBOX. (FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, SEE NTSB SUMMARY REPORT NTSB/AAR-94/01/SUM) Probable Cause: THE DELIBERATE DISREGARD FOR THE FEDERAL AVIATION REGULATIONS, GP EXPRESS PROCEDURES, AND PRUDENT CONCERN FOR SAFETY BY THE TWO PILOTS IN THEIR DECISION TO EXECUTE AN AEROBATIC MANEUVER DURING A SCHEDULED CHECK RIDE FLIGHT, AND THE FAILURE OF GP EXPRESS MANAGEMENT TO ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN A COMMITMENT TO INSTILL PROFESSIONALISM IN THEIR PILOTS CONSISTENT WITH THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF SAFETY NECESSARY FOR AN AIRLINE OPERATING SCHEDULED PASSENGER SERVICE.

Primary Cause

Deliberate disregard for Federal Aviation Regulations, GP Express procedures, and prudent concern for safety, leading to a prioritized lack of safety measures.Deliberate disregard for Federal Aviation Regulations, GP Express procedures, and prudent concern for safety, leading to a prioritized lack of safety measures.

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