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CHI88FA012

1987-10-31 · LAWRENCEVILLE, Illinois, United States · Fatal · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport LWV

Aircraft involved

Factual narrative

WHILE PERFORMING AEROBATIC MANEUVERS THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED A SPIN TO THE LEFT AND DID NOT RECOVER BEFORE IMPACTING THE GROUND. THE ACFT ENTERED THE SPIN AFTER THE PLT ANNOUNCED THAT THIS SPIN WOULD BE THE LAST MANEUVER BEFORE LANDING. THE SPIN WAS STARTED AT ABOUT 1000 FT AGL. ROTATION STOPPED AND NOSE WAS BEING RAISED BUT THE ACFT CONTACTED THE GROUND BEFORE RECOVERY WAS COMPLETED. THIS TYPE OF LUNCHTIME AIRSHOW WAS NOT SANCTIONED BY FAA, BUT HAD BECOME A TRADITION AT THIS FLT SCHOOL DURING 'DADS WEEKEND'. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1987_CHI88FA012.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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