PALOS VERDES, CA, USA
N1394A
HERNANDEZ THORP T-18
THE PILOT WAS DEMONSTRATING THE ACFT FOR THE PASSENGER FOR A POSSIBLE SALE. THEY WERE PART OF A FLIGHT OF TWO OVER THE PACIFIC OCEAN. THE OWNER OF THE AIRCRAFT BEING DEMONSTRATED WAS IN THE SECOND AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT OF THE DEMO ACFT RADIOED TO THE SECOND ACFT THAT HE WAS GOING TO LET THE PASSENGER FLY, WHO WAS A COMM PILOT. THE ACFT INITIALLY BEGAN MAKING TIGHT TURNS BUT THEN TURNED AWAY FROM EACH OTHER. THE PLT OF THE SECOND ACFT DID NOT SEE THE DEMO ACFT AGAIN. A GROUND WITNESS REPORTED SEEING AN ACFT DIVING STRAIGHT TOWARDS THE WATER WITH NO ROTATION. A SEARCH BY THE SECOND ACFT REVEALED NOTHING. ACFT DEBRIS BELONGING TO THE DEMO ACFT WAS LATER FOUND ON THE BEACH AND EXHIBITED EXTREME ACCORDIAN SIGNATURES.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
Aviation Accidents App
In-Depth Access to Aviation Accident Reports
