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Wildcat NTSB report

Posted by John Beyl on Thu Oct 23, 2003 01:24:24 PM

For anybody interested:

NTSB Identification: FTW04LA010
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, October 18, 2003 in Houston, TX
Aircraft: General Motors FM-2, registration: N681S
Injuries: 1 Fatal.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.



On October 18, 2003, approximately 1817 central daylight time, a General Motors FM-2 "Wildcat", single-engine WWII vintage warbird airplane, N681S, was destroyed after it impacted the terrain following a loss of control while maneuvering near Ellington Field (EFD), Houston, Texas. The airline transport rated pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was registered to the American Airpower Heritage Flying Museum, Midland, Texas, and operated by the Confederate Air Force, Midland, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 airshow flight. The local flight departed Ellington Field at an unknown time, and at the time of the accident, the airplane was participating in the Wings Over Houston airshow.

Witnesses, who were traveling on a nearby roadway, reported observing the airplane approximately 200 feet agl on approach to Ellington Field trailing a twin-engine bomber aircraft. Several witness stated the airplane had executed a series of 360-degree steep turns to allow for spacing between the slower aircraft that were on approach to the airport. During a right turn, the airplane pitched nose up, the wings "wobbled", the airplane descend and entered a partial spin. One witness stated it appeared the airplane, approximately 50 feet agl, attempted to level off; however, then impacted the terrain in a nose down attitude. Another witness stated the propeller was turning and did not notice any problems with the airplane or engine. The witnesses did not observe any smoke or fire from the airplane prior to the impact.

According to an FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, the wreckage was located approximately 1,500 feet from the approach end of runway 35R. The main wreckage came to rest upright on a measured magnetic heading of 280 degrees, approximately 40 feet from the initial impact, and the wreckage debris was distributed along a magnetic heading of 240 degrees. The initial impact crater was consistent with the nose and engine of the airplane, and the propeller hub and blades were located in the crater.

Examination of the wreckage by the FAA inspector revealed the left wing was separated and came to rest adjacent to the main wreckage, and the right wing was partially separated and folded aft along the fuselage. The vertical stabilizer was wrinkled and the rudder remained attached. The right horizontal stabilizer was partially separated at the fuselage, and the right elevator control surface was separated at its respective hinge points. The propeller assembly was separated from the engine, and the engine sustained substantial impact damage. The cockpit throttle control was found in the full forward (ON) position, the mixture was found at the idle cut off, and the left magneto was selected.

According to the pilot's most recent medical application, he accumulated approximately 6,000 total flight hours.

At 1750, the EFD automatic terminal information service (ATIS) reported the wind from 020 degrees at 8 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, sky clear, temperature 77 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 50 degrees Fahrenheit, and an altimeter setting of 30.11 inches of mercury.

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