- Date
- September 21, 1983, 09:19 local (16:19 UTC)
- Place
- Clearlake Oaks, CA
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N3727Kecskes DER Jager D-1X
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19830921050089A
- Case key
- 23513
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The acft collided with the ground while performing low alt aerobatics at a private ranch strip. This show had become a regular wed morning event to entertain guest. According to witnesses the acft had done rolls loops and pull-ups. After a low pass the acft pulled up executed a hammerhead or wing over, made a left turn and dove into the ground. The engine was developing power prior to impact. Investigation revealed no evidence or any pre-impact discrepancies of the acft or engine. The plts autopsy and toxicology reports were negative.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3727
- Reported as
- Kecskes DER Jager D-1X (DER JAGER)
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 078
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235C1, 115 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Thomas Dale Willhite
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Airport
- High Valley
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 43
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Center
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 1,500 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N3727 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.