Final Report: Accident Laser Z200, (PH-LSR) Abbeyshrule, Co. Longford 20 March 2016 Report - 2017-012

 

The Pilot was conducting a flight in the vicinity of Abbeyshrule Airfield (EIAB) in Co. Longford. This was his second flight in the Laser Z200 single-seat, aerobatic aircraft which had been delivered to him at EIAB seven days prior to the accident. The flight consisted of circuits of the airfield incorporating a number of landings, take-offs, and aerobatic manoeuvres. While flying on the downwind segment of the final circuit, the Pilot initiated a sequence of aerobatic rolling manoeuvres at a circuit height of approximately 800 ft. Eyewitnesses observed the aircraft entering a steep nose-down flight path. During the attempted recovery, the aircraft appeared to stall and enter the initial stage of a spin. It impacted with terrain in an agricultural field adjacent to the runway, fatally injuring the Pilot. The aircraft was destroyed and there was no fire.