Accident Bushmaster 2000 N750RW,

ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 322547

Date:	Saturday 25 September 2004
Time:	15:23
Type:	Bushmaster 2000
Owner/operator:	R.R. Fuchs
Registration:	N750RW
MSN:	2
Year of manufacture:	1985
Total airframe hrs:	1420 hours
Engine model:	Pratt & Whitney R-985
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed, written off
Category:	Accident
Location:	near Fullerton Municipal Airport, CA (FUL) - United States of America
Phase:	Take off
Nature:	Demo/Airshow/Display
Departure airport:	Fullerton Municipal Airport, CA (FUL/KFUL)
Destination airport:	Fullerton Municipal Airport, CA (FUL/KFUL)
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
The Bushmaster, a Ford Tri-Motor replica plane, took part in an air show during the Fullerton Airport Appreciation Day. As it was attempting to takeoff, it departed runway 24. The pilot pulled up to avoid ramp personnel. It just missed the control tower and slammed onto a street, sideswiping a car. The plane broke apart on impact and erupted in flames. A photograph of the airplane clearly showed a strap connecting the left elevator to the rudder.

PROBABLE CAUSE: "The inadequate preflight inspection by the pilot-in-command, where the pilot failed to remove the makeshift gust lock attached to the rudder and left elevator of the airplane. As a result, the airplane veered off the runway surface during the takeoff roll, became airborne, and immediately began an uncontrolled descending left roll until impacting vehicles and the ground."

Accident investigation: