Aero Vodochody L39C N139GS

Summary

On 1 September 2012 at about 18:30 local time, a Aero Vodochody L39C registered N139GS was involved in an accident near Davenport, Iowa, 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

1 September 2012 at 18:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Davenport, Iowa, United States

Coordinates

41.6103, -90.5883

Aircraft

Aero Vodochody L39C

Registration

N139GS

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

Davenport → Davenport

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN12LA602

1 person died.

The loss of airplane control for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded operation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The accident airplane was part of a 3 airplane airshow demonstration performance. After overflying the spectators and flying away from the flightline, the airplanes were executing a crossover break maneuver, which the accident airplane was in the left wing position. During the crossover break maneuver, the lead airplane first entered a climbing maneuver, the left wing position airplane entered a right turn, and then the right wing position airplane entered a left turn with adequate longitudinal spacing. During the maneuver, the accident airplane entered the right turn, descended, and impacted the terrain. A post-impact fire ensued. No evidence of any in-flight collision with the other airplanes was observed. Witnesses reported that they did not observe any movement of the airplane's flight control surfaces prior to the airplane impacting terrain, which would be inconsistent with the pilot attempting to recover from the descent. No preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures were noted with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.