Amateur-built ACRO SPORT II accident near Pence Springs, West Virginia, May 23, 1999
On May 23, 1999, a amateur-built ACRO SPORT II, registered N113JN, was destroyed in an accident near Pence Springs, West Virginia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot's improper decision to perform aerobatics, and his failure to maintain aircraft control, which resulted in an inadvertent spin. A factor in the accident was the pilot's lack of aerobatic experience.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 23, 1999
- Place
- Pence Springs, West Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built ACRO SPORT II ACRO SPORT
- Registration
- N113JN · no longer on the register · serial 113
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot was conducting a local flight with a passenger. The student pilot elected to engage in aerobatics. While at 1,000 feet agl, the student pilot attempted his first roll ever in the accident airplane. He entered a roll to the left, and then accidentally transitioned into a spin. He reduced the power, placed the pilot's stick to neutral, added full right rudder to counter the spin to the left. However, the airplane impacted terrain. Flight control continuity was established, and a witness reported hearing the engine operating until impact. The student pilot had a total of 75 hours of flight experience, and 25 hours in make and model. Included in the 75 hours, was 4 hours of dual instruction in a tailwheel equipped airplane, which included 'some' aerobatic training. In addition, the student had received spin, and spin recovery training. The student pilot had successfully completed 10 to 15 rolls in an Acro Sport I, and felt comfortable attempting a roll in the Acro Sport II.
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: student
- Flight time: 75 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 55 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 875 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: W59 Pence Springs WV at 11:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 9,500 ft; scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 57°F (14°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.