Aero Vodochody L 39 N139AJ

Summary

On 23 September 2016 at about 16:15 local time, a Aero Vodochody L 39 registered N139AJ, operated by Warbirds LLC, was involved in an accident near Norfolk, Virginia, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

23 September 2016 at 16:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Norfolk, Virginia, United States

Nearest airport

Hampton Roads Executive (PVG)

Coordinates

36.9375, -76.3086

Aircraft

Aero Vodochody L 39

Registration

N139AJ

Category

Airplane

Year built

1974

Engines

1

Operator

Warbirds LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lynchburg → Norfolk

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA16LA322

Nobody was injured.

An uncommanded flap retraction for reasons that could not be determined, as a postaccident examination of the flap system did not reveal evidence of any preaccident anomalies.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the private pilot of the jet trainer airplane, the airplane was on final approach for landing about 100 ft above ground level and 60 ft from the runway threshold, when there was an "uncommanded" retraction of the flaps. He adjusted the airplane's pitch and advanced the throttle in order to compensate for the flap retraction, increasing the airspeed from 90 knots to 130 knots. The airplane touched down on the runway and the pilot applied the brake pedals, followed by the emergency brake. As the airplane began to veer toward the side of the runway, the pilot released the emergency brake and continued to apply brakes using the brake pedals. The airplane continued off the departure end of the runway, struck trees, and came to rest about 1,050 ft from the end of the 5,350ft-long runway. While impact-related damage prevented a functional test of the airplane's normal and emergency flap extension systems, an examination of the flap system components revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. It is likely that the airplane's increased speed at the time of touchdown resulted in the runway excursion.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.