Applegate PANZL S331E accident near Apple Valley, CA
On July 22, 2017, an Applegate PANZL S331E (airplane) was involved in an accident near Apple Valley, CA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- July 22, 2017
- Place
- Apple Valley, CA
- Aircraft
- Applegate PANZL S331E · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 34.604°N, 117.133°W
- NTSB ID
- 20170722X84949
Official records · WPR17FA161
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn July 22, 2017, about 1500 Pacific daylight time, an Applegate Panzl S331E airplane, N331ST, impacted terrain while conducting aerobatic maneuvers near Apple Valley, California. The private pilot was fatally injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to the pilot who was operating the airplane under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight, which originated from Apple Valley Airport (APV), Apple Valley, California, about 1445. The pilot was practicing her aerobatics routine and was performing the sixth figure of a nine-figure routine when the accident occurred. A witness, who was familiar with the pilot's routine, reported that, as planned, the airplane entered a 45° descent and executed a right snap roll before entering a left roll. The airplane continued its descent, rolling at a slower rate, until it impacted the ground. The witness stated that, when she entered the maneuver, the pilot had adequate altitude to complete it. An in-cockpit video from a camera mounted over the pilot's right shoulder captured the entirety of the accident flight. During the before takeoff engine run-up, the pilot confirmed flight control continuity; the video showed that the aileron surfaces moved accordingly. The pilot departed and began the aerobatic routine about 3 minutes into the flight. About 4 minutes into the routine, the pilot entered a 45° inverted downline and the airplane performed 1.5 snap rolls to
Probable cause
A fatigue failure of the left aileron control rod end during aerobatic flight, which resulted in the pilot's inability to maintain control of the airplane.
More accidents in CA
- Douglas MD-83, Feb 1, 2000
- Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-32, Aug 31, 1986
- British Aerospace BAE-146-200, Dec 8, 1987
- Beech C-99, Aug 24, 1984
- Sikorsky S-61N, Aug 6, 2008
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.
