# Accident 20030426036959A: Sino SJ302, Del Rio, TX, April 26, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 26, 2003, 10:15 local time
- Place: Del Rio, TX
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 29.8728° N, 100.9608° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.8728&lon=-100.9608&mi=10
- Aircraft: N138BF, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N138BF-2003-06-17) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Sino Swearingen Acft SJ30-2 (registry code 8780113, https://openairdocs.org/model/sino-swearingen-acft-sj30-2) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Williams FJ-44 series (registry code 66000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/williams-fj-44-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SINO SJ302
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 12,000 total, 602 in this make and model, 31 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB IAD03MA049](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD03MA049) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030426036959A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) N138BF, A SJ30-2 EXPERIMENTAL/RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AIRCRAFT WAS CONDUCTING FLIGHT TEST OPERATIONS INVOLVING HIGH SPEED FLUTTER TESTING. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SCHEDULED TO PERFORM A SERIES OF FLIGHT CONTROL INPUTS AND WAS COMPLETING THE ELEVATOR, AILERON AND RUDDER "PUSH" INPUTS WHEN THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN A ROLL TO THE RIGHT (AS WITNESSED BY THE CHASE PLANE PILOT) THAT CONTINUED UNTIL IMPACT.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB IAD03MA049](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD03MA049), Apr 26, 2003: Sino-Swearingen SJ30-2 (N138BF), Loma Alta, TX, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The manufacturer's incomplete high-Mach design research, which resulted in the airplane becoming unstable and diverging into a lateral upset.

## Other reports on N138BF (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20010723019939I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010723019939I), Jul 23, 2001: Sino SJ302 (N138BF), San Antonio, TX, Minor damage. (-23) This experimental r&d aircraft made a normal landing touchdown after conducting in-flight extreme rudder travel tests. The nosewheel steering…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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