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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.

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NTSB Report

November 7, 1992 · R W Sherman Turbulent · N84766

Adelanto, CA

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
November 7, 1992
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Adelanto, CA
Aircraft
R W Sherman Turbulent
Tail Number
N84766
Operator
Mcrorey Loelan J
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX93LA032

The pilot was departing a dry lake bed on a local flight. Ground witnesses reported that upon reaching between 50 and 60 feet above the ground the engine sustained a total loss of power. Instead of landing straight ahead in the open area the pilot elected to execute a right turn. The aircraft stalled during the turn and plunged nose down into the ground. The engine examination disclosed no evidence of any internal catastrophic failures. The airframe fuel system and the engine accessories were destroyed. The aircraft's maintenance records disclosed that the pilot/owner/builder had not performed any condition inspections as required by current Federal Air Regulations since it received its special experimental airworthiness certificate on Oct 22, 1986. The pilot's records were not recovered. According to the FAA, the pilot received his last second class medical certificate on December 27, 1990. He indicated on the medical application form that he had accrued 430 hours. The aircraft log book revealed that the pilot had flown the accident aircraft for 5 hours and 12 minutes.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER EMERGENCY DECISION TO ATTEMPT TO RETURN TO THE DEPARTURE AREA. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE UNDETERMINED LOSS OF POWER, INADEQUATE ALTITUDE, AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN THE AIRSPEED.

Full Narrative

THE PILOT WAS DEPARTING A DRY LAKE BED ON A LOCAL FLIGHT. GROUND WITNESSES REPORTED THAT UPON REACHING BETWEEN 50 AND 60 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND THE ENGINE SUSTAINED A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. INSTEAD OF LANDING STRAIGHT AHEAD IN THE OPEN AREA THE PILOT ELECTED TO EXECUTE A RIGHT TURN. THE AIRCRAFT STALLED DURING THE TURN AND PLUNGED NOSE DOWN INTO THE GROUND. THE ENGINE EXAMINATION DISCLOSED NO EVIDENCE OF ANY INTERNAL CATASTROPHIC FAILURES. THE AIRFRAME FUEL SYSTEM AND THE ENGINE ACCESSORIES WERE DESTROYED. THE AIRCRAFT'S MAINTENANCE RECORDS DISCLOSED THAT THE PILOT/OWNER/BUILDER HAD NOT PERFORMED ANY CONDITION INSPECTIONS AS REQUIRED BY CURRENT FEDERAL AIR REGULATIONS SINCE IT RECEIVED ITS SPECIAL EXPERIMENTAL AIRWORTHINESS CERTIFICATE ON OCT 22, 1986. THE PILOT'S RECORDS WERE NOT RECOVERED. ACCORDING TO THE FAA, THE PILOT RECEIVED HIS LAST SECOND CLASS MEDICAL CERTIFICATE ON DECEMBER 27, 1990. HE INDICATED ON THE MEDICAL APPLICATION FORM THAT HE HAD ACCRUED 430 HOURS. THE AIRCRAFT LOG BOOK REVEALED THAT THE PILOT HAD FLOWN THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT FOR 5 HOURS AND 12 MINUTES.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:30 PST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftR W Sherman Turbulent
Tail NumberN84766
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorMcrorey Loelan J
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsVolkswagen · Reciprocating · 45
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 43 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility50 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data