# Accident 20181023020599A: North American SNJ-5, Agoura Hills, CA, October 23, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 23, 2018, 13:35 local time
- Place: Agoura Hills, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.1381° N, 118.7244° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1381&lon=-118.7244&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7969C, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7969C) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: North American SNJ-5 (registry code 6400418, https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-snj-5) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney R1340 series (registry code 52016, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: NORTH AMERICAN SNJ-5
- Reported engine: P&W R1340 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR19LA014](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19LA014) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20181023020599A

## Narrative

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

AIRCRAFT DEPARTED VNY AIRPORT.  6 MIN AFTER TAKEOFF, THE AIRCRAFT SUFFERED AN ENGINE PROBLEM THAT CAUSED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE PILOT CHOSE TO LAND ON THE 101 FREEWAY IN AUGORA, CA. AFTER LANDING THE PILOT VEERED TO THE LEFT TO MISS A CAR IN FRONT OF HIM. THIS CAUSED THE LEFT WING TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THE CENTER DIVIDER WHICH CAUSED THE LEFT WING FUEL TANK TO RUPTURE. SPILLED FUEL IMMEDIATELY CAUGHT FIRE AS THE PLANE CAME TO STOP ON ITS NOSE. THE PILOT IMMEDIATELY GOT OUT OF THE AIRCRAFT WITH NO INJURIES. THE AIRCRAFT  DID NOT STRIKE ANY CARS ON THE FREEWAY. THE ONLY DAMAGE WAS TO THE AIRCRAFT WHICH WAS PARTIALLY CONSUMED BY THE POST CRASH FIRE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS REMOVED FROM SITE BY THE CONTRACTED SALVAGE CREW AND TAKEN TO CHINO, CA FOR LATER POST CRASH INSPECTION.

## 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 WPR19LA014](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19LA014), Oct 23, 2018: North American SNJ (N7969C), Agoura Hills, CA, destroyed. Probable cause: The failure of the No. 5 piston rod end due to fatigue, which resulted in a total loss of engine power.

## Other reports on N7969C (2)

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

- [Accident 20170419004469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170419004469A), Apr 19, 2017: North American SNJ-5 (N7969C), Van Nuys, CA, Substantial damage. On 04/19/2017, N7969C, a texan T6, upon landing at Van Nuys Airport (kvny), Van Nuys, CA, encountered a gust of wind that lifted the right-hand wing, causing…
- [Accident 19771207038129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19771207038129A), Dec 7, 1977: Namer SNJ5 (N7969C), Van Nuys, CA, Substantial damage. L gr lock pin malfunctioned.

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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