Vavra, Martin A. REBEL 300 accident near Wonderlake, IL
On April 23, 1994, a Vavra, Martin A. REBEL 300 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Wonderlake, IL. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- April 23, 1994
- Place
- Wonderlake, IL
- Aircraft
- Vavra, Martin A. REBEL 300 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 42.340°N, 88.030°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001206X01069
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On April 23, 1994, about 1035 central daylight time, an experimental Rebel 300 airplane, N12MV, was destroyed during aerobatic maneuvers at the Galt Wondelake Airport in Wonder Lake, Illinois. The solo private pilot sustained fatal injuries. The personal flight originated about 1030 and was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. A flight plan was not filed for the local flight and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A witness to the accident, who was a professional pilot and an aerobatic judge certified by the International Aerobatic Club (IAC), stated the flight originated as an aerobatic practice session to calibrate the airplane sighting device which is used to visually obtain precision vertical flight for aerobatic competition. The pilot had performed three or four entries to the center of the aerobatic box at an estimated altitude of 1700 feet AGL. He performed a smooth, consistent radius, 90 degree vertical pull each time to evaluate the sighting device. The witness, who was judging the airplane's performance at the time of the accident, wrote in his statement that, "On approximately the fourth or fifth vertical pull...as the nose was pitching up through approximately 30 to 40 degrees nose up, the right wing was observed to fail and at the same time the still attached left wing caused an immediate right hand roll of the aircraft. The visual perception of the breakage can be best assimilated to clapping your hands over your head." He stated the engine sounded like it was at full power. The right wing separated and made a "paddle wheel descent." He re
Probable cause
FATIGUE AND CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE MAIN WING SPAR RESULTING FROM THE DESIGNER'S EXCESSIVE, UNVERIFIED ESTIMATE OF THE STRENGTH OF THE SPAR CAP MATERIAL AND THE MANUFACTURER'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE SPECIFIED STRENGTH DURING THE PRODUCTION PROCESS.
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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
