Alon A2 N37698

Summary

On 17 September 1994 at about 17:30 local time, a Alon A2 registered N37698 was involved in an accident near Orland, 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

17 September 1994 at 17:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Orland, California, United States

Coordinates

39.7304, -122.3297

Aircraft

Alon A2

Registration

N37698

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX94FA367

1 person died.

the pilot's intentional performance of an aerobatic maneuver which overloaded the outboard portion of the left wing and caused it to fail. Factors which contributed to the accident were the pilot's overconfidence in his ability to perform the maneuver and his lack of experience or training in aerobatics.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

DURING A LOCAL AREA PERSONAL FLIGHT, THE PILOT PERFORMED AN AEROBATIC MANEUVER. NO ONE OBSERVED THE ACTUAL MANEUVER; HOWEVER, ONE WITNESS SAW THE AIRPLANE SECONDS PRIOR TO THE CRASH, AND HE INDICATED THE AIRPLANE WAS FALLING 'LIKE A ROCK.' THE OUTBOARD 3-FOOT-LONG PORTION OF THE LEFT WING WAS FOUND IN AN OPEN FIELD ABOUT 200 YARDS FROM THE MAIN WRECKAGE. PRIOR TO THE PILOT'S TAKEOFF, HE HAD INFORMED AN ACQUAINTANCE THAT HE PLANNED TO 'DO SOME ROLLS.' A WEEK EARLIER, THE PILOT TOLD HIS WIFE THAT HE WANTED TO TRY TO ROLL HIS AIRPLANE. THE PILOT HAD NOT RECEIVED AEROBATIC FLIGHT TRAINING, AND THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT CERTIFICATED TO PERFORM ROLLS. EXAMINATION OF THE LEFT AILERON AND LEFT WING STRUCTURE REVEALED PERMANENT DEFORMATION IN AN UPWARD (POSITIVE) DIRECTION. FAA AIRWORTHINESS AND CERTIFICATION OFFICE PERSONNEL REPORTED NO SIGNS OF A DEVELOPING OR PREEXISTING CONDITION WHICH INDUCED FAILURE OF THE SEPARATED LEFT WING TIP.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.