Thompson Quickie Q2 accident near Tehachapi, CA
On July 20, 2003, a Thompson Quickie Q2 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Tehachapi, CA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- July 20, 2003
- Place
- Tehachapi, CA
- Aircraft
- Thompson Quickie Q2 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 35.101°N, 118.435°W
- NTSB ID
- 20030724X01184
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On July 20, 2003, about 0954 Pacific daylight time, the pilot flying a homebuilt Quickie Q2, N218DT, experienced a loss of control during takeoff from the Mountain Valley (uncontrolled) Airport, Tehachapi, California. The airplane descended until impacting the runway, and it was destroyed. The private pilot was fatally injured. The experimental airplane was built, owned, and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight was performed under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and it was originating at the time of the accident. Witnesses reported to airport personnel and to a deputy Kern County coroner that the accident occurred during the pilot's maiden flight in his airplane. Reportedly, the airplane pitched upward after liftoff and gained several yards of altitude above the runway. Some witnesses described the climb angle as being steep. Thereafter, the airplane descended, yawed left, and impacted the runway. The airplane came to rest inverted, whereupon it immediately burst into flames. The post impact ground fire consumed the airplane. Propeller marks were noted on the runway over 200 feet from the main wreckage. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) aviation safety inspector verbally reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that the pilot had made several modifications to his airplane. One of the modifications involved increasing its fuel tank capacity. The FAA inspector advised the pilot to correct several deficiencies with the airplane before h
Probable cause
The pilot's inadvertent entry into a pilot induced oscillation and failure to maintain airplane control during the takeoff initial climb. A contributing factor was the pilot's likely impairment by an over-the-counter drug substance that degraded his physical and mental performance.
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Browse: California
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
