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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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April 23, 1988 · Hernandez Thorp T-18 · N1394A

Palos Verdes, CA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 23, 1988
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Location
Palos Verdes, CA
Aircraft
Hernandez Thorp T-18
Tail Number
N1394A
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX88DUA01

THE PILOT WAS DEMONSTRATING THE ACFT FOR THE PASSENGER FOR A POSSIBLE SALE. THEY WERE PART OF A FLIGHT OF TWO OVER THE PACIFIC OCEAN. THE OWNER OF THE AIRCRAFT BEING DEMONSTRATED WAS IN THE SECOND AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT OF THE DEMO ACFT RADIOED TO THE SECOND ACFT THAT HE WAS GOING TO LET THE PASSENGER FLY, WHO WAS A COMM PILOT. THE ACFT INITIALLY BEGAN MAKING TIGHT TURNS BUT THEN TURNED AWAY FROM EACH OTHER. THE PLT OF THE SECOND ACFT DID NOT SEE THE DEMO ACFT AGAIN. A GROUND WITNESS REPORTED SEEING AN ACFT DIVING STRAIGHT TOWARDS THE WATER WITH NO ROTATION. A SEARCH BY THE SECOND ACFT REVEALED NOTHING. ACFT DEBRIS BELONGING TO THE DEMO ACFT WAS LATER FOUND ON THE BEACH AND EXHIBITED EXTREME ACCORDIAN SIGNATURES.

Full Narrative

THE PILOT WAS DEMONSTRATING THE ACFT FOR THE PASSENGER FOR A POSSIBLE SALE. THEY WERE PART OF A FLIGHT OF TWO OVER THE PACIFIC OCEAN. THE OWNER OF THE AIRCRAFT BEING DEMONSTRATED WAS IN THE SECOND AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT OF THE DEMO ACFT RADIOED TO THE SECOND ACFT THAT HE WAS GOING TO LET THE PASSENGER FLY, WHO WAS A COMM PILOT. THE ACFT INITIALLY BEGAN MAKING TIGHT TURNS BUT THEN TURNED AWAY FROM EACH OTHER. THE PLT OF THE SECOND ACFT DID NOT SEE THE DEMO ACFT AGAIN. A GROUND WITNESS REPORTED SEEING AN ACFT DIVING STRAIGHT TOWARDS THE WATER WITH NO ROTATION. A SEARCH BY THE SECOND ACFT REVEALED NOTHING. ACFT DEBRIS BELONGING TO THE DEMO ACFT WAS LATER FOUND ON THE BEACH AND EXHIBITED EXTREME ACCORDIAN SIGNATURES.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:00 PDT
Nearest Airport15nm SSW
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftHernandez Thorp T-18
Tail NumberN1394A
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-E3D · Reciprocating · 160
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Fatal2
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 47 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind270° @ 15 kt
Visibility25 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 2000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point57 / 0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time22:46
Weather SourceWFAC

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Appendix: Source Data