Star Lite SL1 accident near Corning, CA
On February 16, 2023, a Star Lite SL1 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Corning, CA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- February 16, 2023
- Place
- Corning, CA
- Aircraft
- Star Lite SL1 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 39.943°N, 122.178°W
- NTSB ID
- 20230223106771
Official records · WPR23LA112
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
On February 15, 2023, about 1730 Pacific standard time, an unregistered Star Lite SL-1 airplane was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Corning, California. The student pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The owner of the airplane stated that on the day of the accident he and the accident pilot were taking turns flying the airplane in the traffic pattern at Corning Municipal Airport (0O4). The owner performed five or six takeoffs and landings, and then switched with the accident pilot. The accident pilot flew once around the traffic pattern and landed without incident. On the second flight, the pilot took off from runway 35 and performed what the owner described as an “aerobatic” or barrel roll. He stated that the pilot appeared to pull out of the roll too slowly, while in a nose-down attitude, and that the pilot attempted an aggressive recovery. As the airplane‘s speed increased , the left wing separated, and the airplane impacted terrain. Another witness to the accident provided a statement consistent with that of the airplane owner. The airplane impacted the ground about 0.5 miles southwest of the airport. The airplane came to rest in an orchard with debris scattered throughout an approximate 90-yard radius. The left wing was located about 60 yards northwest of the main wreckage. The owner discarded the wreckage before an examination could be performed. The airplane owner stated that he had purchased the airplane three to four months before the accident. He was under the im
Probable cause
The student pilot’s loss of airplane control during an intentional aerobatic maneuver, which resulted in an inflight separation of the left wing and subsequent impact with the terrain.
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.
