Aero Vodochody L-39ZO N298RD

Summary

On 24 August 2003 at about 15:15 local time, a Aero Vodochody L-39ZO registered N298RD was involved in an accident near Forest Hill, Maryland, 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

24 August 2003 at 15:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Forest Hill, Maryland, United States

Nearest airport

Forest Hill Industrial Airpark (MD31)

Coordinates

39.5850, -76.3914

Aircraft

Aero Vodochody L-39ZO

Registration

N298RD

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Baltimore → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC03FA180

1 person died.

The pilot's in-flight decision to delay application of engine power to account for the engine's slow response to throttle input, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and subsequent collision with a residential area. A factor related to the accident was the pilot's lack of experience in jet-powered airplanes.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Several witnesses observed the airplane approach the airpark, proceed over the runway low level, and initiate a go-around. During the go-around, the airplane pitched upwards and began to lose velocity. At the peak of the airplane's accent, the airplane stalled, nosed over, and descended towards the ground. The airplane impacted the southwest corner of a 3-story residential home, located about 1/2-mile west of the airpark, and subsequently impacted the ground, where a post crash fire ensued. Examination of the engine's fuel control revealed that the throttle arm was in the full power position. Examination of the cockpit area revealed that the engine tachometer needles were observed at "28 percent" for N1, and "56 percent" for N2. The fuel pressure needle was observed at its normal pressure reading for a high power setting, and the oil pressure needle and oil temperature gages were observed at a position consistent with the engine developing power. According to the airplanes Flight Training manual, the time required for the engine to accelerate from a low engine speed to high engine speed (idle to max power), was approximately 9 to 12 seconds. The pilot had accumulated about 25 hours of total flight experience in the L-39. The pilot had been informed in the past by the manager of the airplane to maintain 75 percent rpm or better while landing, in the event that a go-around had to be executed. The manager accentuated to the pilot that he needed to be aware that the engine took close to 12 seconds to spool up, and having the extra power lessened the engines response time in the event of a go-around. No pre-impact abnormalities with the airframe or powerplant were observed.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.