The airplane was substantially damaged and its solo private pilot fatally injured upon impacting terrain while maneuvering. Visual conditions prevailed for the practice aerobatic flight. Prior to a scheduled aerobatic competition, the pilot was engaged in a practice session. Witnesses observed the accident airplane conduct an approximate “30-degree downline to gain airspeed” from about 3500 feet agl. Shortly thereafter, witnesses heard a transmission in the blind from the accident pilot stating “my stick broke.” Subsequently, witnesses observed the accident airplane descend in a nose-down attitude into terrain.
