On Thu, 07 Oct 2004 15:17:39 -0400, Corky Scott
wrote in
::

On Thu, 07 Oct 2004 14:20:57 GMT, Larry Dighera
wrote:

I was unaware that his last flight occurred during the filming of Top
Gun. Is anyone able to provide any details on the circumstances?
NTSB report?

He had modified his Pitt's to mount a video camera behind the cockpit
to film the sea spinning for that sequence in the film. Apparently
the camera put the center of gravity far enough to the rear that once
he got into a spin, the airplane became unrecoverable. He kept trying
to get it out of the spin all the way down. He radioed several times
that he had a problem.

Don't know if he was wearing a chute.

Corky Scott



Thank you for the information.

That is a truly heart rending story. It's hard to believe that such
could happen to so skilled an aerobatic performer. However, with such
a short little airplane, I would expect keeping the CG within the
envelope to be problematic.

Once again aviation proves just how unforgiving it can be even for a
skilled and talented airman.

More he
http://www.artscholl.com/FinalFlight.htm (September 16, 1985.)
http://www.artscholl.com/Art%20&%20Harold.htm
http://www.artschollaviation.com/asa/index.php