Aero Vodochody L-39 N139RH

Summary

On 31 May 2003 at about 02:14 local time, a Aero Vodochody L-39 registered N139RH was involved in an accident near Tracy, 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

31 May 2003 at 02:14

Classification

Accident

Location

Tracy, California, United States

Nearest airport

New Jeruselem (1Q4)

Coordinates

37.7497, -121.4283

Aircraft

Aero Vodochody L-39

Registration

N139RH

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Air Race/Show

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Byron → Tracy

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX03LA173

1 person died.

the pilot's failure to maintain adequate terrain clearance while performing low level aerobatics.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The single engine, two seat, jet airplane impacted the ground while pulling out of a low level loop. The airplane was practicing low level team aerobatics with two other similar jet airplanes. The established hard deck for the practice was 1,000 feet. The lead jet entered a loop maneuver at about 1,500 feet and impacted the ground while pulling out at the bottom of the maneuver. During the end of the maneuver the wings rocked and the nose pitched down. Examination of the ejection seat mechanism disclosed no evidence that the pilot attempted to eject from the airplane. No evidence of a control system malfunction was found and the damage to the engine was consistent with it developing significant power at ground impact.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.