Jurca MJ5 SIROCCO N239GA

Summary

On 18 July 1991 at about 03:05 local time, a Jurca MJ5 SIROCCO registered N239GA, operated by Simon E. Richards, was involved in an accident near Lake Mathews, California, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

18 July 1991 at 03:05

Classification

Accident

Location

Lake Mathews, California, United States

Coordinates

33.8906, -117.4407

Aircraft

Jurca MJ5 SIROCCO

Registration

N239GA

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Simon E. Richards

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Chino → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

LAX91LA316

2 people died.

THE PILOT'S INTENTIONAL LOW ALTITUDE FLIGHT WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION WITH A POWER LINE STATIC CABLE. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS INADEQUATE LIGHT CONDITIONS WHICH REDUCED THE PILOT'S ABILITY TO DETECT THE POWER LINE.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE CERTIFICATED STUDENT PILOT, AFTER FUELING HIS AIRCRAFT, INVITED THE NON-CERTIFICATED FUELER TO GO FOR A SHORT FLIGHT TO THE PRACTICE AREA AND BACK. THE FUELER LEFT THE PUMPS UNATTENDED AND UNLOCKED. THEY DEPARTED FOUR MINUTES BEFORE OFFICIAL SUNSET. WITNESS SAW THE AIRCRAFT PERFORMING WHAT APPEARED TO BE AEROBATICS THEN LOST SIGHT OF THEM BEHIND A HILL. AFTER A TURN IN THE HIGHWAY THEY AGAIN SAW THE AIRCRAFT , BUT IN A NOSEDOWN FAST SPIN IN A NEAR VERTICAL ATTITUDE. FAA INSPECTORS STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A POWER LINE STATIC CABLE WHICH SEVERED THE ENTIRE EMPENNAGE. FRIENDS OF THE PILOT STATED THAT HE ENJOYED LOW ALTITUDE CONTOUR FLYING AND THAT THEY HAD WARNED HIM OF THE POWER LINE DANGER.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.