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CEN12CA360

2012-06-09 · Kokomo, Indiana, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport KOKK

N34BJ has since been reassigned. It is now registered to a different aircraft (CIRRUS DESIGN SF50), which was not involved in this event.

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

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

Factual narrative

The pilot planned to depart the runway and then turn left towards a row of trees for an aerobatic demonstration at a local airshow. 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 the airplane wasn’t going to clear the trees. The pilot stated that he applied more controls in order to increase the climb angle, but the airplane collided with 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 the distance”. He also reported that there were occasionally gusty winds, but was unable to ascertain whether the winds were a factor or not. 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. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-(general)-Pilot - C
  • — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Tree(s)-Not specified

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2012_CEN12CA360.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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