Aero Vodochody L39C N580LL

Summary

On 8 October 2017 at about 18:00 local time, a Aero Vodochody L39C registered N580LL was involved in an accident near Vernon, Texas, 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

8 October 2017 at 18:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Vernon, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Wilbarger County (F05)

Coordinates

34.2117, -99.2892

Aircraft

Aero Vodochody L39C

Registration

N580LL

Category

Airplane

Year built

1984

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Vernon → Vernon

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN18FA004

1 person died.

An in-flight loss of control and collision with terrain for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The commercial pilot of the jet trainer airplane departed on a local personal flight and flew for about an hour before returning to the airport. Witnesses saw the airplane make a high-speed pass over the runway at low altitude. Some thought the pilot may have been conducting a go-around. The airplane then entered a steep left bank, estimated to vary between 45° and 90°, then impacted the ground. The airplane was destroyed by impact and a postcrash fire, which precluded a thorough examination of its systems, including the flight controls; however, the engine displayed signatures of power production at the time of impact. Toxicology testing and autopsy of the pilot did not detect any impairing substances or identify significant physiological issues that may have resulted in incapacitation. It is likely that the pilot experienced an in-flight loss of control while maneuvering at low altitude; however, the reason for the loss of control could not be determined based on the available information.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.