Aero Vodochody Aero Works L39C N8125R

Summary

On 30 June 2003 at about 20:33 local time, a Aero Vodochody Aero Works L39C registered N8125R, operated by Elmo Eugene Hahn III, was involved in an accident near Gadsden, Alabama, 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

30 June 2003 at 20:33

Classification

Accident

Location

Gadsden, Alabama, United States

Nearest airport

Gadsden Municipal (KGAD)

Coordinates

33.9725, -86.0889

Aircraft

Aero Vodochody Aero Works L39C

Registration

N8125R

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Elmo Eugene Hahn III

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Gadsden → Muskegon

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL03LA113

1 person died.

The loss of engine power during takeoff due to foreign object damage, which resulted in an in-flight collision with terrain during forced landing. Factors were the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection of the airplane, his failure to secure the cargo/baggage door, and his failure to maintain control of the airplane prior to ejecting from the airplane.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight was departing with heavy rain and thunderstorms in the vicinity. During takeoff roll, a witness observed debris in the air around the airplane as soon as it lifted off the runway, then heard two "thump" noises from the engine followed by engine whining. The airplane continued airborne, then veered left and descended. The airplane rolled approximately 90 degrees, and the pilot ejected. Objects that had been stowed in the nose compartment of the airplane were found on the runway near the point where the airplane rotated. The left access panel for the nose compartment was found separated from the airframe with the upper hinges absent. The left panel displayed fire damage and extensive crush deformation with the fasteners on the panel lower edge attached. The right access panel for the nose compartment was found attached at the upper hinges to the upper nose compartment structure. The right panel and nose compartment structure displayed no fire damage and exhibited minor bending deformation and scratches in the paint. The fasteners on the right panel lower edge were absent. According to a chart published by Czech Jet, for single-seat ejection from the aircraft, the lowest minimum altitude for ejection with 90 degrees of bank is approximately 1,100 feet above the ground, and the lowest minimum altitude for ejection with zero degrees of bank is less than zero feet above the ground.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.