Bombardier F-86E MK.6 N3842J

Summary

On 2 May 1993 at about 20:43 local time, a Bombardier F-86E MK.6 registered N3842J, operated by James A. Gregory, was involved in an accident near Santa Ana, California, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

2 May 1993 at 20:43

Classification

Accident

Location

Santa Ana, California, United States

Nearest airport

McAs el Toro (NZJ)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Bombardier F-86E MK.6

Registration

N3842J

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

James A. Gregory

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX93LA199

1 person died.

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PLANNING/DECISION CONCERNING PERFORMANCE OF AN AEROBATIC MANEUVER, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ALTITUDE/CLEARANCE ABOVE THE RUNWAY DURING RECOVERY FROM THE MANEUVER. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE PILOT'S LOWER TOLERANCE TO 'G'S' (PHYSIOLOGICAL CONDITION) BY NOT WEARING A 'G' SUIT (MISCELLANEOUS EQUIPMENT).

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

A PREPLANNED ROUTINE INVOLVING AN F-86 AND A MIG-15 HAD BEEN SCHEDULED FOR THE AIRSHOW. WHEN THE MIG-15 PILOT WAS UNABLE TO PARTICIPATE, THE F-86 PILOT ELECTED TO CONDUCT A SOLO AEROBATIC ROUTINE THAT HAD NOT BEEN PRACTICED FOR THE SHOW. AFTER TAKEOFF, HE BEGAN A LOOP WITH AN AILERON ROLL AT THE TOP OF THE MANEUVER. DURING DESCENT FROM THE TOP OF THE LOOP, THE AIRPLANE DEVELOPED A HIGH RATE OF DESCENT AND CONTACTED THE RUNWAY IN A NEAR NOSE AND WING LEVEL ATTITUDE. THE PILOT WAS NOT WEARING A 'G' SUIT, AND THE CALCULATED 'G'S' SUSTAINED DURING THE PULL-OUT (BEFORE IMPACT) WERE 6.4 G'S. NO SPECTATORS WERE INJURED.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.