Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

August 12, 1995 · Ronneberg/Murphy Berkut · N91DR

Santa Paula, CA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 12, 1995
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Santa Paula, CA
Aircraft
Ronneberg/Murphy Berkut
Tail Number
N91DR
Operator
Experimental Aviation
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX95LA289

The pilot was doing a demonstration air show routine, one that he had performed in this aircraft for over 2 years. Near the end of the performance, the pilot entered his standard 8g minimum radius knife edge turn about 200 feet agl. The accident sequence was videotaped by a spectator. About 270 degrees into the turn, the aircraft burbled, or rocked the wings slightly. The videotape showed the aircraft increase the angle of attack just before the burble was observed. Following the burble, the left wing dropped and the aircraft rolled left 270 degrees to a near wings level flight attitude. The aircraft then descended in a nose-up pitch attitude behind a tree line and impacted the ground. The aircraft designer stated that the wing plan form is a modified delta similar to the Vari-EZ/Long-EZ designs, which incorporates a forward canard for pitch control. The pilot sits in a high g-tolerant reclined position. During flight test, no main wing stall has been induced due to g-loads imposed on the aircraft. FAA inspectors examined the aircraft twice and found no discrepancies. Air show pilots who performed just before the accident pilot said that the airmass was smooth with no unusual turbulence or other meteorological phenomena noted.

NTSB Probable Cause

the pilot's inadvertent entry into an accelerated stall in a maximum performance high-g turn at an altitude insufficient to recover aircraft control prior to colliding with the ground.

Full Narrative

On August 12, 1995, at 1510 Pacific daylight time, a homebuilt experimental Ronneberg/Murphy Berkut airplane, N91DR, collided with the ground following a loss of control during an air show demonstration routine at Santa Paula, California. The aircraft was operated by Experimental Aviation, Inc., of Santa Monica, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The aircraft was destroyed in the ground collision sequence. The certificated airline transport pilot sustained fatal injuries. The flight originated at the Santa Paula airport on the day of the accident at 1455. In an interview, the aircraft designer/builder stated that the wing plan form is a modified delta similar to the Vari-EZ/Long-EZ designs, which incorporates a forward canard for pitch control. The pilot sits in a high g-tolerant reclined position. During flight test, no main wing stall has been induced due to g-loads imposed on the aircraft. The ultimate design load factors are g-loadings of 14 positive and 7 negative. The witness said the demonstration routine, including the 8g minimum radius turn, performed at the time of the accident is the same one flown by the accident pilot since 1992. Many ground witnesses, including other air show pilots and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors, witnessed the accident sequence. All of the witnesses heard engine power sounds throughout the sequence-to-ground impact. In addition to the witnesses, a spectator videotaped the entire performance of the aircraft to include the accident sequence. Review of the videotape disclosed that the sequence as viewed matched the witness observations of the accident. The videotape is included as part of the public docket. An FAA inspector said he observed the aircraft do what the narrator described as a complete 360-degree 6g turn, which was immediately followed by the 8g knife edge minimum radius turn to the left. About 270 degrees into the turn, many witnesses saw the aircraft "burble" or rock the wings slightly. The videotape showed the aircraft increase the angle of attack just before the "burble" was observed. Following the burble, the left wing dropped and the aircraft rolled left 270 degrees to a near wings level flight attitude. The aircraft then descended in a nose-up pitch attitude behind a tree line and impacted the ground. The aircraft designer/builder stated that the 8g minimum radius turn looked normal until the 270-degree point. The aircraft then looked as if the turn tightened and the aircraft rolled left. His impression was that the aircraft did a full 360-degree roll until the time it disappeared behind the trees. On-site examination of the aircraft by FAA inspectors established that all of the aircraft components were accounted for in the wreckage distribution path. The fuselage was extensively fragmented and distributed over a 210-foot-long path. After recovery of the aircraft from the site it was examined again in detail by FAA airworthiness inspectors. The inspectors reported that no discrepancies were found. Air show pilots who performed immediately before the accident pilot's routine were interviewed. The pilots reported that the airmass was smooth with no unusual turbulence or other meteorological phenomena noted. Other air show pilots familiar with the accident pilot reported that before the flight the pilot appeared rested and his normal self. An autopsy was performed by the Ventura County Medical Examiner with specimens retained for toxicological analysis. The toxicological tests were negative for alcohol and all screened drug substances.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:10 PDT
Nearest AirportSanta Paula (0nm)
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftRonneberg/Murphy Berkut
Tail NumberN91DR
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorExperimental Aviation
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-360-B1B · Reciprocating · 200
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 47 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind320° @ 9 kt
Visibility20 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point57
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time21:46
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data