AeroVodochodyL-39

The airplane was substantially damaged at about 1102 Central time when it impacted terrain. The commercial pilot and passenger were fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed. According to reports, the accident flight was the airplane’s second flight of the day, intended to give the passenger a ride. A witness reported observing a smoke plume from the ground, but did not see the crash. The witness said that he saw and heard the airplane before the crash, and did not think the airplane was doing aerobatics.

At about 1450 Pacific time, the airplane experienced partial failure of the primary airframe structure supporting its rudder while in the race pattern at Reno-Stead Airport. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured, but the airplane sustained substantial damage. The air-race qualification/training flight was operating in visual conditions.

At about 1329 Pacific time, the airplane was destroyed when it impacted terrain while maneuvering. The commercial pilot and pilot-rated passenger were killed. Visual conditions prevailed. Witnesses reported three jet airplanes overflew the area on a westerly heading at about 500 feet agl. The accident airplane was observed trailing low and to the right of the other two airplanes, and was slightly oscillating to the left and right.

The airplane was substantially damaged at about 0800 Eastern time when it impacted terrain after experiencing loss of engine power during the initial climb. The private pilot and a passenger were fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed. The airplane was built as a Czech military jet trainer and was certificated as an experimental aircraft in the exhibition category. Witnesses reported “…when the aircraft was abeam the numbers at the approach end of runway 10, the loud engine went silent. A few seconds later, the left wing dipped and the aircraft went into a left spiraling spin, plunging below the tree line….” Witnesses reported the pilot fueled the airplane from a tank on the back of a pickup truck. According to fuel receipts, the pilot purchased about 138 gallons of “kerosene,” 6 gallons of “off road diesel,” and 27 gallons of “diesel” fuel, the day before the accident.

At 1445 Pacific daylight time, the airplane collided with terrain while participating in the Reno Air Races at the Reno-Stead Airport. The private pilot and sole occupant sustained fatal injuries; the airplane was destroyed. Visual conditions prevailed. According to witnesses, the airplane rounded a pylon in a left bank. It then rolled right, became inverted and impacted the ground at high speed.

The jet trainer crashed at about 1443 Eastern time while the pilot was performing aerobatic maneuvers at the TICO Warbird Airshow. Visual conditions prevailed. The Airline Transport pilot and sole occupant received fatal injuries. The accident occurred at the bottom of a loop. A witness stated that, during the loop, the angle of descent became progressively shallow as the airplane neared the ground, as if the pilot was attempting to pull out of the dive at too low an altitude. The airplane impacted terrain and was destroyed.

Radio and radar contact were lost with the aircraft at 1158 Pacific time; as of October 26, 2004, the airplane had not been located and was presumed destroyed. Its occupants, a Private pilot and his passenger, are presumed to have received fatal injuries. The flight departed Boeing Field in Seattle, Wash., at 1146 and was in an area of reported instrument conditions on an IFR flight plan. Approximately nine minutes after takeoff, the pilot reported passing 8000 feet for 15,000 feet. About 70 seconds later, a controller cleared the flight to 17,000 feet. A short time later, the pilot advised ATC that he had an in-flight emergency. About 15 seconds after declaring the emergency, the pilot tran…

At 1533 central time, an Aero Vodochody L39C jet lost engine power due to foreign object ingestion and crashed on takeoff from Gadsden Municipal Airport. The pilot ejected but was killed. A witness said he saw debris in the air just as the airplane lifted off, then heard the sound of the engine ingesting debris. The witness said the airplane appeared to struggle back and forth, then it veered left and was at an approximate 90-degree angle and no more than 50 feet above the ground when the pilot ejected. Examination of the wreckage found the baggage door from the left nose baggage compartment had separated with the locking mechanism attached to the door. A fabric briefcase, numerous papers, a…

At 1914 Pacific time, an Aero Vodochody L-39 crashed while performing team aerobatic maneuvers in the vicinity of Tracy. The pilot was killed. A flight of three Aero Vodochody L-39s were practicing low-level team aerobatics in a designated aerobatic box area. Witnesses said the airplane had completed a series of aileron rolls at an altitude of approximately 1,300 to 1,700 feet agl when the accident airplane appeared to level off, then start to descend and wander to the left, eventually crashing at approximately a 60-degree nose down angle….

At 11:27 mountain time, an Aero Vodochody L-39CT crashed on departure from Front Range Airport, killing both aboard. Witnesses said the airplane departed from runway 26 and turned crosswind for a southbound departure. The airplane was observed to pitch-up approximately 30 degrees, and drop immediately to the ground….