Amateur-built SH-2R accident near Somerville, Virginia, May 3, 1992
On May 3, 1992 at about 7:58 pm local time, a amateur-built SH-2R, registered N1RX, was destroyed in an accident near Somerville, Virginia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE HANDLING OF AIRCRAFT DURING AEROBATIC MANEUVER WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF CONTROL. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN OPERATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 3, 1992 · about 7:58 pm local time
- Place
- Somerville, Virginia
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SH-2R
- Registration
- N1RX · no longer on the register · serial 222
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT INDICATED BEFORE THE FLIGHT THAT HE WAS GOING TO DO SOME AEROBATICS. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PILOT WAS OVERHEARD ON THE RADIO SAYING 'I CAN'T CONTROL IT . . . WE'RE GOING IN.' WITNESSES REPORTED THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED WHILE IN A COUNTER CLOCKWISE FLAT SPIN BEFORE IT CRASHED. THE INVESTIGATION DID NOT REVEAL EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. THE PILOT'S ONLY KNOWN AEROBATIC FLIGHT EXPERIENCE OCCURRED ON A DAY ABOUT THREE WEEKS EARLIER, IN WHICH HE WAS SHOWN LOOPS AND BARREL ROLLS.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 245 hours in all; 151 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 200 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 185 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 16, 1991; 86 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 B1E (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: W66 Warrenton/Fauqu VA at 7:45 pm
- Destination: W66
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.