Northrop N9M accident near Norco, CA
On April 22, 2019, a Northrop N9M (airplane) was involved in an accident near Norco, CA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- April 22, 2019
- Place
- Norco, CA
- Aircraft
- Northrop N9M · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 33.929°N, 117.575°W
- NTSB ID
- 20190422X61451
Official records · WPR19FA118
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn April 22, 2019, about 1209 Pacific daylight time, a Northrop N9M airplane, N9MB, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Norco, California. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Representatives from the Planes of Fame Air Museum, Chino, California, reported that the accident flight was a post-maintenance check flight in preparation for their annual air show. Multiple witnesses adjacent to the accident site saw the airplane flying on an east-northeasterly heading at a low altitude. One witness, who was a pilot, was located about 0.5 mile southeast of the accident site and reported seeing the accident airplane in level flight with what sounded like a cruise power setting; both engines appeared to be functioning. The witness said that the airplane then pitched upward no more than 15°, and during the climb, the airplane banked left about 10 to 20°, before it abruptly banked to the right until the airplane was inverted. The witness added that once the airplane was inverted, the engines began to sputter; however, as the roll continued, the engines' rpm increased quickly, and the airplane entered a "diving right corkscrew turn." The airplane continued to descend below a tree line out of the witness's view; however, he could hear "a very loud noise from the engines" followed by the sound of impact; he subsequently saw a rising plume of black smoke. Another witness stated that the airplane appeared to initiate a "barrel roll" at a low altitude and begin to wobble
Probable cause
The pilot's loss of control for undetermined reasons.
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.
