Aero Vodochody L39 accident near California City, CA
On February 26, 2006, an Aero Vodochody L39 (airplane) was involved in an accident near California City, CA. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- February 26, 2006
- Place
- California City, CA
- Aircraft
- Aero Vodochody L39 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 35.226°N, 118.101°W
- NTSB ID
- 20060306X00269
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On February 26, 2006, about 0828 Pacific standard time, an Aero Vodochody, L39, N39DF, crashed into hilly terrain during a low altitude course reversal maneuver about 6.4 nautical miles northwest of California City, California. The experimental category turbojet was owned and operated by Mach 1 Aviation, Universal City, California. The flight was performed under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The airplane was fragmented upon colliding with terrain and thereafter was consumed by fire. The airline transport certificated (front seat) pilot, and the commercial certificated (rear seat) pilot were killed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the aerial photography flight, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Van Nuys, California, about 0726. The accident occurred during a flight conducted for the purpose of filming a motion picture involving the L39 airplane. The film's producer-director was in the lead Cessna 310 airplane (camera ship) and made a video recording of a portion of the accident airplane's final maneuver. Additionally, an audio and video recording was made by a camera in the accident airplane. According to the director, at the commencement of the accident airplane's course reversal maneuver, the airplane had been cruising about 5,500 feet mean sea level. The operator indicated that the pilot who occupied the front seat was in command, and the pilot who was positioned in the rear seat was the "co-pilot." The operator also reported that the airplane could be flown from either seat. Ho
Probable cause
The flight crew's failure to maintain terrain clearance during an intentionally performed course reversal turn at low altitude.
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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.
