Margeson/Heidebrink VANS RV-3 N18DT
20 July 1995 · Corcoran, California, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 20 July 1995 at about 17:20 local time, a Margeson/Heidebrink VANS RV-3 registered N18DT was involved in an accident near Corcoran, California, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 17:20
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Corcoran, California, United States
- Coordinates
- 36.0702, -119.5297
- Aircraft
- Margeson/Heidebrink VANS RV-3
- Registration
- N18DT
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Bakersfield → Fresno
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX95LA258
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
a loss of engine power for undetermined reasons, and the pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed while maneuvering for a forced landing, which resulted in an inadvertent stall/spin.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT INDICATED THAT HE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WHILE CRUISING ABOUT 4,000 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND AND WAS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A FORCED LANDING AT A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP HE NOTICED WHILE DESCENDING. A GROUND WITNESS WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AND OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT GLIDING DOWN TOWARDS A FIELD. THE WITNESS SAID THE AIRCRAFT STARTED A CLIMB FROM ABOUT 150 FEET AGL, THEN TURNED RAPIDLY TO THE LEFT AND 'CORK-SCREWED TO THE GROUND' IN A COTTON FIELD. AFTER RECOVERY OF THE AIRCRAFT FROM THE COTTON FIELD, THE AIRFRAME AND ENGINE WERE EXAMINED BY AN FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR WHO FOUND NO DISCREPANCY IN EITHER THE WRECKAGE OR THE MAINTENANCE RECORDS. THE ENGINE WAS REMOVED FROM THE AIRFRAME AND SENT TO AN FAA CERTIFIED ENGINE OVERHAUL SHOP FOR EVALUATION. THE OVERHAUL SHOP FOUND NO MECHANICAL DISCREPANCIES WITH THE ENGINE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Jun 1995 | Ed Bergreen KIS | San Leandro, California, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 23 Jun 1995 | Spreuer COZY | Oceanside, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 26 Jun 1995 | Cessna 182P | Susanville, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 28 Jun 1995 | Cessna 150M | Turlock, California, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 24 Jun 1995 | Piper PA-28-181 | Palm Springs, California, United States | Alan L. Kaplan | No injuries | - |
| 24 Jun 1995 | Piper PA-34-200 | Avalon, California, United States | Aero Club | No injuries | - |