Siai-Marchetti SF-260 accident near Belfast, ME
On April 6, 2008, a Siai-Marchetti SF-260 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Belfast, ME. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- April 6, 2008
- Place
- Belfast, ME
- Aircraft
- Siai-Marchetti SF-260 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 44.396°N, 68.962°W
- NTSB ID
- 20080425X00546
Official records · NYC08FA155
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- Bangor Air Traffic Control Radar Files: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On April 6, 2008, about 1755 eastern daylight time, an SIAI-Marchetti, SF-260, N601RH, was substantially damaged when it impacted the water of Penobscot Bay, while maneuvering near Belfast Municipal Airport (BST), Belfast, Maine. The certificated commercial pilot was killed. The local personal flight was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulation Part 91, and no flight plan was filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. A witness observed the airplane performing a "lazy barrel roll;" while the airplane was "still upside down," it was observed to pitch down towards the water and "disappear." Another witness observed the airplane starting a "lazy climb" as thought it was going to go into the clouds. The witness then heard "the loudest bang" and could not reacquire the airplane. One witness reported that it sounded similar to an engine "back fire," but considerably "louder than a back fire." The depth of the water was approximately 60 feet and the airplane was not recovered. The landing gear and some seat cushions were recovered. The diver who recovered the body of the pilot reported that "everything forward of the rear seat was shredded." He further stated that the only item resembling an airplane was the tailcone section. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate, with ratings for airplane single-engine land, airplane multi-engine land, and instrument airplane. He also held a private pilot certificate, with a rating for airplane single-engine sea. His most recent Federal Aviation Administratio
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane due to spatial disorientation during an aerobatic maneuver.
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Browse: Maine
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
