# Accident 20151206022519A: Aero Vodochody L-39, Apple Valley, CA, December 6, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 6, 2015, 14:07 local time
- Place: Apple Valley, CA
- Airport: Apple Valley
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.5719° N, 117.1850° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5719&lon=-117.1850&mi=10
- Aircraft: N39AY, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N39AY-2018-12-04) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aero Vodochody L-39 (registry code 05603SJ, https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-vodochody-l-39) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Ivchenko AI-25TL (registry code 34703, https://openairdocs.org/engine/ivchenko-ai-25tl) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AERO VODOCHODY L-39
- Reported engine: IVCHENKO AI-25TL
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 23,223 total, 170 in this make and model, 68 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR16FA035](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16FA035) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20151206022519A

## Narrative

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

THE L-39C AIRCRAFT DEPARTED RUNWAY 18 AT APPLE VALLEY AIRPORT.  DURING TAKEOFF CLIMB OUT, MULTIPLE WITNESSES REPORTED HEARING POPPING NOISES AS WELL AS SEEING SMOKE AND OR FLAME COMING FROM THE JET ENGINE'S EXHAUST PIPE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS LAST SEEN ROLLING LEFT PRIOR TO CRASHING170 FEET SOUTH OF THE DEPARTURE END OF RUNWAY 18 AND 240 FEET WEST OF RUNWAY CENTERLINE. THE PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE BOTH KILLED. THE INITIAL IMPACT POINT WAS 236 FEET NORTHEAST OF THE MAIN WRECKAGE RESTING POINT.  THE DEBRIS PATH WAS 236 FEET LONG AND APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET WIDE.

THE PASSENGER HELD A PRIVATE PILOT CERTIFICATE (ASEL) WITH 377 REPORTED HOURS.

## 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 WPR16FA035](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16FA035), Dec 6, 2015: Aero Vodochody L 39C (N39AY), Apple Valley, CA, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power on takeoff, which resulted from a sudden over-temperature condition due to an improperly adjusted fuel control unit and the deteriorated condition of the fuel nozzles.

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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