Plane Crash List

Warren-Thomas BD-5J N45DH

12 September 1992 · Chico, California, United States · Fatal

Summary

On 12 September 1992 at about 20:52 local time, a Warren-Thomas BD-5J registered N45DH, operated by Hoover, David, was involved in an accident near Chico, California, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

The record

Date
at 20:52
Classification
Accident
Location
Chico, California, United States
Nearest airport
Chico (CIC)
Coordinates
Not recorded
Aircraft
Warren-Thomas BD-5J
Registration
N45DH
Category
Airplane
Engines
1
Operator
Hoover, David
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Unknown
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Aircraft damage
Destroyed
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
LAX92LA381

People

1 person died.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
1 1 0 0 0

Probable cause

THE PILOT MISJUDGED THE AEROBATIC MANEUVER RECOVERY ALTITUDE.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE CERTIFICATED AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT, WAS NEARING COMPLETION OF AN AEROBATICS DEMONSTRATION FLIGHT AT AN AIR SHOW. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE PILOT PERFORM A 'SPLIT S' MANEUVER, DURING WHICH TIME THE EXPERIMENTAL MICRO JET WAS ROLLED INVERTED TO A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED FROM THE ENTRY PORTION OF THE MANEUVER IN A WINGS LEVEL DIVE TO ABOUT A 60 TO 70 DEGREE NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE UNTIL COLLIDING WITH THE GROUND. A VIDEO TAPE TAKEN BY A SPECTATOR SHOWS THAT THE AIRPLANE'S ATTITUDE DID NOT CHANGE PRIOR TO IMPACT. THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS FOUND.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

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