North American SNJ N7969C
23 October 2018 · Agoura Hills, California, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 23 October 2018 at about 20:44 local time, a North American SNJ registered N7969C, operated by Condor Squadron Officers & Airmens Assoc, was involved in an accident near Agoura Hills, California, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 20:44
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Agoura Hills, California, United States
- Coordinates
- 34.1381, -118.7244
- Aircraft
- North American SNJ
- Registration
- N7969C
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1958
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Condor Squadron Officers & Airmens Assoc
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Van Nuys → Van Nuys
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- WPR19LA014
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
The failure of the No. 5 piston rod end due to fatigue, which resulted in a total loss of engine power.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot reported that, shortly after departure, he heard two loud bangs followed by total loss of engine power. The pilot performed a forced landing to a highway, during which the airplane swerved to the left, the left wing impacted a concrete center divider, and a postimpact fire ensued. Initial examination of the engine found that the No. 2 cylinder was cracked, and the No. 1 cylinder and the base between the Nos. 4 and 5 cylinders displayed damage. Disassembly of the engine revealed the piston-end master rod piece from the No. 5 cylinder fractured through the I-beam shaft. Microscopic examination of the fracture surface showed evidence of fatigue. The initiation point of the fatigue fracture was damaged due to mechanical contact during the failure sequence. The accident is consistent with a total loss of engine power following the failure of the No. 5 master rod end. The initiating point and cause of the fatigue failure could not be identified based on the available evidence.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other North American SNJ accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Apr 2019 | North American SNJ | Chino, California, United States | Planes Of Fame Air Museum | No injuries | - |
| 20 Apr 2017 | North American SNJ | Van Nuys, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 8 May 2020 | North American SNJ | San Antonio, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 3 Sep 2016 | North American SNJ | Perris, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 25 Jun 2016 | North American SNJ | Jackson, Michigan, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 14 Apr 2009 | North American SNJ | Bessemer, Alabama, United States | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Apr 2018 | Hawley Richard A1B | Lincoln, California, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 14 Jul 2018 | Cassutt IIIM | Rosamond, California, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 18 May 2018 | Cessna 182D | Crescent Mills, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 22 Aug 2018 | Champion 7KCAB | Descanso, California, United States | Three Point Partners Inc | Fatal | 2 |
| 30 Jan 2018 | Robinson R44 | Newport Beach, California, United States | - | Fatal | 3 |
| 12 Dec 2018 | Piper PA28 | Chino, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |