Amateur-built ACRO SPORT II accident near Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania, August 11, 2019
On August 11, 2019 at about 8:43 pm local time, a 2006 amateur-built ACRO SPORT II, registered N43032, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania (Jersey Shore airport). 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 decision to conduct low altitude aerobatic maneuvers which resulted in an exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack while maneuvering at a low altitude, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 11, 2019 · about 8:43 pm local time
- Place
- Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania · Jersey Shore · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built ACRO SPORT II 2, built 2006
- Registration
- N43032 · no longer on the register · serial 774
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot had purchased the experimental, amateur-built airplane about 3 weeks before the accident. The airplane was partially disassembled, transported to an airport, and then reassembled. The pilot flew the airplane for the first time 2 days before the accident. The pilot and a pilot-rated passenger departed for the pilot’s second flight in the airplane. A witness at the airport stated that he spoke to the pilot before he took off on the accident flight and that the pilot stated that he was going to fly his new airplane. The witness watched the airplane take off from runway 27, make a circle, and conduct a high-speed fly-by over runway 9 about 150 ft above ground level (agl). The witness reported the engine was running at "full throttle." When over the end of the runway, the airplane climbed straight up to about 500-600 ft agl. The witness then saw the airplane "stall"; the left wing rolled over, and the airplane made about two or three spirals before impacting the ground. The maneuvering described by the witness was consistent with the pilot performing intentional, low altitude acrobatic maneuvers that resulted in a stall/spin, and loss of control. Postaccident examination of the engine and airframe revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control in flight during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Capability exceeded
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,400 hours in all
- Last flight review: June 8, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: fatal
Pilot-Rated Passenger
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,370 hours in all
- Medical certificate: BasicMed
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12.9 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, August 5, 2006
- Maximum gross weight: 1,520 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: P96 Jersey Shore PA at 8:35 pm
- Destination: P96 Jersey Shore PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 09, 3,059 ft by 130 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 8:40 pm from KIPT, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
10 documents, released by the NTSB on December 1, 2020. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Witness Statements | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Delete | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Pilot Logbook | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Photo Array | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Wreckage Diagrams | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Toxicological Report | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Passenger Toxicological Report | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 8 | Maintenance Records | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 9 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 10 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 14 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.