FTW83FA245

Factual narrative

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND IN A FLAT SPIN THAT LASTED FOR ABOUT 14 TURNS WITH NO CHANGE IN ATTITUDE. THE PLT HAD JUST COMPLETED AN AIR SHOW AND WAS PREPARING TO JOIN A FORMATION FLT TO RETURN TO THE ARPT. JUST BEFORE JOINING THE FORMATION THE PLT WAS SEEN TO DO A 'SPLIT-S' WHICH ENDED IN A NORMAL SPIN THAT WENT FLAT. POST-ACCIDENT EXAM SHOWED THATA ELEVATOR BRACKET HAD FAILED AT A WELD DURING A HEAVIER THAN NORMAL LOAD. THE WELD REVEALED POOR HEAT PENETRATION. THE UPPER SIDE OF THE EAR REVEALED NO METAL FUSING. THE METAL ON THE LOWER SIDE OF THE EAR TO BRACKET WAS PARTIALLY FUSED TOGETHER. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12