Josephson MC-15 CRICKET N128HJ

Summary

On 29 August 1995 at about 00:50 local time, a Josephson MC-15 CRICKET registered N128HJ, operated by Mike Gretton, was involved in an accident near San Diego, California, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

29 August 1995 at 00:50

Classification

Accident

Location

San Diego, California, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Josephson MC-15 CRICKET

Registration

N128HJ

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Mike Gretton

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Miramar Nas → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX95LA309

Nobody was injured.

the failure of the left engine due to inadequate maintenance of the ignition system.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

APPROXIMATELY 4 MILES FROM THE DEPARTURE RUNWAY, THE LEFT ENGINE STOPPED ON THE TWO-ENGINE, AMATEUR-BUILT AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT ALTERED COURSE TOWARD HIS DESTINATION, BUT FOUND HE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE ON THE REMAINING ENGINE AND ELECTED TO ATTEMPT AN OFF-AIRPORT LANDING ON A NEARBY ISLAND. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE LANDING SITE AND LANDED THE LANDPLANE IN THE WATER APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET OFFSHORE. INSPECTION OF THE FAILED ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE SINGLE IGNITION SYSTEM WAS INOPERATIVE DUE TO A CHAFFED PRIMARY WIRE WHICH HAD SHORT CIRCUITED TO THE ENGINE MOUNT. THE SECONDARY IGNITION WIRE WAS ALSO IN A DETERIORATED CONDITION. THE AIRCRAFT HAD RECEIVED AN ANNUAL INSPECTION AND HAD BEEN APPROVED FOR RETURN TO SERVICE 1 WEEK PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT AND HAD ACCUMULATED 2.4 HOURS SINCE INSPECTION.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.