Ayers LESS DRAG SPECIAL N130LD

Summary

On 29 June 2013 at about 19:10 local time, a Ayers LESS DRAG SPECIAL registered N130LD, operated by James E Ayers, was involved in an accident near Oxnard, California, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

29 June 2013 at 19:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Oxnard, California, United States

Nearest airport

Oxnard Airport (OXR)

Coordinates

34.1881, -119.2269

Aircraft

Ayers LESS DRAG SPECIAL

Registration

N130LD

Category

Airplane

Year built

2010

Engines

1

Operator

James E Ayers

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Oxnard → Oxnard

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR13FA298

2 people died.

A loss of engine power after takeoff for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation, and the pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Two witnesses stated that they observed the airplane taxi out and take off, and they reported that the engine sounded good. Additional witnesses reported seeing the airplane depart and then hearing the engine backfire and sputter before losing power. The airplane banked left as if the pilot were trying to return to the airport. The airplane's nose pitched up, it stalled, and then its nose pitched down before it impacted terrain. A postimpact fire destroyed the fuselage, cabin, cockpit, and right wing. The left wing and empennage were seriously damaged by the fire and impact forces. No anomalies were noted during the postaccident examination that would have resulted in the loss of engine power or the subsequent loss of airplane control. The witnesses' descriptions of the event were consistent with the airplane entering an aerodynamic stall/spin while the pilot was attempting to return to the airport after encountering a loss of engine power during initial climb. A review of weight and balance data revealed that the airplane would have been within its center of gravity limits at the time of the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.