C-FIT

5) Buzzing / acro

16 fatal accidents on record

This happens mostly during day VMC conditions where the goal is low passes, photo passes,  persons watching, STOL operations, or aerobatic practice. Unseen obstacles such as guy wires, transmission lines, towers, often are the first point of contact.  Inexperienced and unqualified pilots attempting acrobatic flight for the first time, or attempting acrobatic maneuvers too close to the surface area, or disorientation during high G maneuvers often cause fatal impact with the terrain. Numerous fatal accidents have been caused by attempted loop maneuvers that were started too low and cannot be completed before impact, or attempted roll maneuvers that went wrong too low.

Trend

Fatal accidents per quarter, last 8 quarters, with a rolling 12-month average (per quarter)
  • Accidents per quarter
  • Rolling 12-month average
5) Buzzing / acro: Fatal accidents per quarter, last 8 quarters, with a rolling 12-month average (per quarter)
PeriodAccidentsRolling 12-month average per quarter
Q1 202511.5
Q2 202521.5
Q3 202511.3
Q4 202521.5
Q1 202601.3
Q2 202631.5
Q3 202621.8
Q4 2026 QTD01.5

Lessons

Short reads from the DTSB lesson library for this category.

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Practice scenarios

What to practice to keep this from happening to you. Fly drills with a qualified instructor at a safe altitude, or in a simulator.

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Recent accidents in this category

See all 16 in the accident index →