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SA-700 Acroduster Accidents N181J Corona CA 1976. N37CR El Mirage CA 1981

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Dave Baxter

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NTSB Identification: LAX76FUG48

14 CFR Part 91 General Aviation

Aircraft: ACRODUSTER SA-700, registration: N181J

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FILE DATE LOCATION AIRCRAFT DATA INJURIES FLIGHT PILOT DATA
F S M/N PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1128 76/5/1 CORONA,CA ACRODUSTER SA-700 CR- 1 0 0 MISCELLANEOUS COMMERCIAL, AGE 34, 4500
TIME - 1525 N181J PX- 0 0 0 AIR SHOW/RACING TOTAL HOURS, 60 IN TYPE,
DAMAGE-DESTROYED OT- 0 0 0 INSTRUMENT RATED.
NAME OF AIRPORT - CORONA
DEPARTURE POINT INTENDED DESTINATION
CORONA,CA LOCAL
TYPE OF ACCIDENT PHASE OF OPERATION
AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT IN FLIGHT: ACROBATICS
COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
PILOT IN COMMAND - EXCEEDED DESIGNED STRESS LIMITS OF AIRCRAFT
MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
FACTOR(S)
MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
REMARKS- TAIL SEPARATED DRG LOW ALT HI SPEED PULL UP.



It is my understanding that Manx Kelly had been flying hard aerobatics in this airplane, and was of the opinion that the airplane was indestructible. Of the 40 kits or so that were produced most were finished and flown, one went to Italy and another to Mexico. Jim Osborne hired Max because of his aerobatic resume was a former British fighter pilot a Pitts Dealer and airshow pilot. Osborne wanted the airplane to be demonstrated to its full potential. I have no idea what Jim told him about its structural integrity or whether in gave him the desire to push the limits. The airplane was originally Blue with White stars, and later painted Orange and Yellow. As Jim Stanton said the fuselage was based on the Midget Mustang and was constructed of aluminum. All of the SA-700 airplanes after this had to my knowledge tail brace wires added.


14 CFR Part 91 General Aviation

Aircraft: ACRODUSTER SA-700, registration: N37CR

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FILE DATE LOCATION AIRCRAFT DATA INJURIES FLIGHT PILOT DATA
F S M/N PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1365 81/4/26 ADELANTO ,CA ACRODUSTER SA-700 CR- 1 0 0 MISCELLANEOUS AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
TIME - 1505 N37CR PX- 0 0 0 AIR SHOW/RACING 34, 3700 TOTAL HOURS,
DAMAGE-DESTROYED OT- 0 0 0 UNK/NR IN TYPE,
INSTRUMENT RATED.
NAME OF AIRPORT - EL MIRAGE
DEPARTURE POINT INTENDED DESTINATION
ADELANTO,CA LOCAL
TYPE OF ACCIDENT PHASE OF OPERATION
COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED IN FLIGHT: ACROBATICS
PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED ALTITUDE AND CLEARANCE
FACTOR(S)
WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
SKY CONDITION CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED 15000
VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED) NONE
OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE TEMPERATURE-F
NONE 70
WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS

280 18
TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
VFR NONE
REMARKS- STRUCK GND DRG RECOVERY FM INTENTIONAL LOW ALT SPIN ON AEROBATIC DEMO FLT. WND GSTG 25KTS.


Cindy Rucker was an up and coming airshow pilot. There was some question as to how much real world airshow experience she had at the time of this accident. She was an attractive young woman, and it is my understanding that Jim Osborne was quite smitten with her, whether or not this had any bearing on what happened is pure speculation. I have heard comments from others that whiteness the accident and knew her, thought she was in over her head in the way of experience and airshow proficiency. Add to this density altitude and gusty winds may have also contributed to the accident. As far as some sort of health issue or incapacitation on her part I do not think this was the case, in that she had recently been hired by Western Airlines as a first officer and held a 1st class medical certificate, but as we all know things can happen health wise to anyone any time.


Lou Stolp back in the early 80s once told me the reason he was not an aerobatic enthusiast was because most everyone he knew over the yrs that flew competition or airshow aerobatics were no longer with us, and the exception at the time was Art Scholl, who was gone only several years later. Art Scholl once said to do low altitude airshow aerobatics and survive one has to do 100, out of 100 maneuvers correctly...Dave
 

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