ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 133918
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Date: | Tuesday 19 December 1995 |
Time: | 15:00 |
Type: | Great Lakes 2T-1A-2 |
Owner/operator: | Southern Cross, Inc. |
Registration: | N3511L |
MSN: | 793 |
Total airframe hrs: | 382 hours |
Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
Category: | Accident |
Location: | Fillmore, CA -
United States of America
|
Phase: | Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.) |
Nature: | Private |
Departure airport: | SZP |
Destination airport: | |
Investigating agency: | NTSB |
Confidence Rating: | Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources |
Narrative:HISTORY OF THE FLIGHT
On December 19, 1995, at 1500 hours Pacific standard time, a Great Lakes 2T-1A-2, N3511L, impacted the terrain near Fillmore, California. The aircraft was destroyed and the commercial pilot was seriously injured. The aircraft departed from Santa Paula, California, at 1350 for a local area personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed.
In his report to the NTSB, the pilot reported that following several touch-and-go landings he proceeded to the aerobatic practice area northeast of the airport where he performed a series of aerobatic maneuvers. Prior to returning to Santa Paula for landing, he said he performed a spin from 3,500 feet msl (approximately 3,000 feet agl), which ultimately led to the accident. In a later conversation with the NTSB investigator, the pilot said that his recollection of the spin was that the control stick felt "mushy" in pitch and the spin seemed flat. He said that he had done hundreds of spins but this one was "different."
There were four witnesses to the accident. One witness reported observing the aircraft flying westbound at 300 feet agl and at a low air speed. He observed the aircraft begin spiraling to the ground in a 25-degree nose-low attitude. There was no engine sound as the aircraft spun to the impact. This witness helped extricate the pilot from the aircraft, and as reported in a local newspaper, said that the pilot was conscious but not coherent. When asked, the pilot could not tell him what day it was or how old he was.
The second witness reported hearing the airplane doing "stunts" as he worked. He heard the noise stop and looked up in time to watch the plane spiraling to the ground.
In the Ventura County Sheriff's report of the accident, the above witness and a third witness are reported to have observed the aircraft "flying unusually low to the ground." Then suddenly the aircraft's engine stopped and the plane began "a slow, wide, spin towards the ground."
The fourth witness telephoned the FAA Flight Standards District Office on December 22, 1996. He reported working on a hill 400 to 500 feet above the accident site and observing the aircraft doing "stunt" flying for about 1/2 hour. This witness reported that the aircraft had "good" altitude, the engine sounded good and that the aircraft was not doing "severe acrobatics." When the engine went quiet for 10 to 20 seconds he observed the aircraft at his elevation (400 to 500 feet above the accident site) and then heard some "weird" sounds for a few seconds before hearing the sound of impact. His view was partially obscured by trees. This witness reported that, upon arrival at the crash site, fuel was pouring out of the aircraft and that there was a "buzzing" sound that stopped when someone else turned off some switches in the cockpit.
PILOT INFORMATION
The 52-year-old pilot reported a total flying time of 2,243 hours, of which 842 hours were in the Great Lakes aircraft. He reported 70 hours in the last 90 days and 20 hours in the last 30 days in the accident aircraft. The pilot completed a biennial flight review in the Great Lakes Aircraft 22 months before the accident, and had completed an advanced aerobatic maneuvers course (emergency maneuver training) approximately 3 years prior. Personnel at the Santa Paula airport told the NTSB investigator that the pilot usually flew the accident aircraft once or twice each week and performed some aerobatics on most flights.
AIRCRAFT INFORMATION
The accident aircraft was manufactured in 1978 and had accumulated a total flying time of 382 hours. The last major maintenance performed was an annual inspection on August 22, 1995, at 313 hours. The pilot purchased the aircraft in partnership approximately 4 months before the accident.
WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION
The aircraft wreckage was located in a level lemon orchard, 4 miles southwest of Fillmore at latitude 34 degrees, 23.7 minutes north and longitude 118 degrees, 59.0
Sources:
NTSB id 20001207X05017
Revision history:
Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
21-Dec-2016 19:26 |
ASN Update Bot |
Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency] |
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