Hawker Aircraft Ltd HAWKER HUNTER MK.58A accident near Point Mugu, CA
On May 18, 2012, a Hawker Aircraft Ltd HAWKER HUNTER MK.58A (airplane) was involved in an accident near Point Mugu, CA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- May 18, 2012
- Place
- Point Mugu, CA
- Aircraft
- Hawker Aircraft Ltd HAWKER HUNTER MK.58A · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 34.119°N, 119.119°W
- NTSB ID
- 20120518X65127
Official records · DCA12FA076
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On May 18, 2012, at 1212 Pacific standard time, a Hawker Hunter Mk 58, single-seat turbojet fighter aircraft, N329AX, operated by ATAC (Airborne Tactical Advantage Company) under contract to Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) crashed while on approach to Naval Air Station Point Mugu, California (NTD). The sole pilot aboard was killed, and the airplane was destroyed by impact forces. The flight was conducted under the provisions of a contract between ATAC and the U.S. Navy to provide ATAC owned and operated aircraft to support adversary and electronic warfare training with VMFAT-101 (Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 101). The airplane was operating as a non-military public aircraft under the provisions of Title 49 of the United States Code Sections 40102 and 40125. The airplane departed NTD at 1113 as the wingman in a flight of two Hunters, intending to participate in a fleet training exercise in off shore warning area W291. The flight's radio call sign was "COUGR21." As the accident airplane was not equipped with any recording devices, and all radio communications with the accident pilot were via air-to-air with the flight lead, the sequence of events is based upon the flight lead's interview with investigators and information he separately provided to ATAC personnel following the accident. According to the flight lead, shortly after takeoff, the accident pilot advised him, on an air-to-air frequency, that his lateral stick trim was almost all the way to the right in order to maintain wings level flight. The pilots discussed a maintenance issue invo
Probable cause
the pilot's decision to continue the flight with a known fuel imbalance condition that resulted in a loss of lateral control when the imbalance exceeded the known capabilities of the airplane. The fuel imbalance was due to incomplete refueling and an ineffective preflight inspection by the pilot. The imbalance was further complicated by an incorrectly assembled fuel transfer valve and motor combin
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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
