Aero Falcon KNIGHT FALCON N502AF

Summary

On 6 August 1993 at about 22:40 local time, a Aero Falcon KNIGHT FALCON registered N502AF was involved in an accident near Mineral Wells, Texas, United States. 2 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

6 August 1993 at 22:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Mineral Wells, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Mineral Wells Municipal (MWL)

Coordinates

32.8196, -98.0702

Aircraft

Aero Falcon KNIGHT FALCON

Registration

N502AF

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW93LA233

1 person had minor injuries.

FAILURE OF THE AUTOPILOT WHICH RESULTED IN AN IMPROPER FLIGHT CONTROL CONDITION. A FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S INABILITY TO REGAIN CONTROL.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE EXPERIMENTAL PROTOTYPE, PILOT OPTIONAL, AIRPLANE WAS DEPARTING ON A TEST/ORIENTATION FLIGHT AFTER THE FIRST FLIGHT OF THE DAY HAD BEEN DELAYED DUE TO AUTOPILOT MALFUNCTIONS AND INTERRUPTED DUE TO ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS. AFTER MAINTENANCE WAS PERFORMED, THE FLIGHT TOOK OFF INTO A RIGHT CROSS WIND OF BETWEEN 5 AND 20 KNOTS. THE PILOT SAID THAT AT ABOUT 50 FEET AGL, THE AIRPLANE ENTERED AN UNCOMMANDED RIGHT YAW AND ROLL THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT. HE SAID THAT THE YAW AND ROLL INCREASED IN SEVERITY UNTIL THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE GROUND AFTER THREE 360 DEGREE TURNS. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE FLIGHT CONTROL MALFUNCTION WAS A RESULT OF A RUDDER HARD OVER, SIMILAR TO THE ONE THAT HAD BEEN EXPERIENCED DURING THE GROUND CHECKS PRIOR TO THE FIRST FLIGHT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.