# Accident 20070913021399A: Aerovd L39C, Reno, NV, September 13, 2007

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 13, 2007, 14:40 local time
- Place: Reno, NV
- Airport: Reno/Stead
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.6642° N, 119.8839° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6642&lon=-119.8839&mi=10
- Aircraft: N139DK, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N139DK-2015-05-20) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aero Vodochody L39C (registry code 05620RN, https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-vodochody-l39c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG (registry code 99999, https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AEROVD L39C
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 1,500 total, 150 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA07FA263](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07FA263) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070913021399A

## Narrative

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

(-23) DURING AN AIR RACE, THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT ATTEMPTED TO PASS ANOTHER AIRCRAFT BY DESCENDING BEHIND, AND INSIDE, AND APPEARED TO ENTER WAKE TURBULENCE GENERATED BY THE LEAD AIRCRAFT. THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT APPEARED TO ENTER THE RIGHT (UPPER) WINGTIP VORTEX AS IT ROLLED LEFT PAST 90 DEGREES, CORRECTED BACK TO LEVEL, AND THEN ENTERED THE LEFT (LOWER) WINGTIP VORTEX, ROLLING RIGHT INTO A 360 DEGREE BARREL ROLL. WITH WINGS ALMOST LEVEL, BUT BEFORE ARRESTING THE DESCENT, THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND.

## 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 SEA07FA263](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07FA263), Sep 13, 2007: Aero Vodochody L-39C (N139DK), Reno, NV, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's encounter with wake turbulence while maneuvering over a race course. Contributing to the accident was the low altitude at which the encounter occurred.

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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