Vans RV8 accident near Corona, CA
On December 16, 2023, a Vans RV8 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Corona, CA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- December 16, 2023
- Place
- Corona, CA
- Aircraft
- Vans RV8 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 33.897°N, 117.585°W
- NTSB ID
- 20231216193532
Official records · WPR24FA056
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn December 16, 2023, about 1150 Pacific standard time, an experimental amateur-built Vans RV-8 airplane, N6948L, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Corona, California. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the owner of a paint shop at the Corona Municipal Airport (AJO), Corona, California, the pilot had flown the airplane to AJO on November 13, 2023, to have it painted. The accident flight was the first flight after it was painted. The paint shop required the pilot to disassemble and reassemble the airplane before and after painting because it was an experimental amateur-built airplane. To address fuel leaks, the pilot had drained and repaired the left fuel tank before flying the airplane to AJO. Witnesses reported hearing the airplane during the takeoff and remarked that the engine sounded like it was “missing” and producing partial power. Airport security camera footage revealed that, at 1149:23, the airplane was midway down runway 7 (passing by the fuel tanks) with all of its landing gear on the surface. The airplane continued down the runway and rotated about 4 seconds later. Video analysis determined that the airplane’s speed was 71 kts at the time of rotation, and a sound spectrum analysis revealed that the engine rpm was about 2,500 at that time. The airplane then climbed slightly, just passing over a berm at the airport’s perimeter, reaching a maximum altitude of about 95 ft above the runway. The estimate
Probable cause
Fuel contamination from the pilot’s improper application of a sealant to the fuel tank, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power on takeoff.
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Browse: California · Vans aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
