# NTSB LAX87FA225: Douglas A-4A, N444AV, California City, CA, June 4, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: June 4, 1987, 06:44 local (13:44 UTC)
- Place: California City, CA
- Coordinates: 35.150173, -117.920959 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1502&lon=-117.9210&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 26, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25406
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX87FA225
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25406/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX87FA225

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - aerobatics - intentional, pilot in command (cause)
  - altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE AIRPLANE, A CIVILIAN DOUGLAS A4A, WAS ENGAGED IN FILMING A COMMERCIAL WHICH REQUIRED THE PLT TO FLY OVER A FERRARI VEHICLE. THE PILOT HAD COMPLETED A LOW FILMING PASS OVER THE VEHICLE AND WAS CIRCLING THE AREA WHILE THE FILM CREW WAS PREPARING FOR ANOTHER LOW PASS OVER THE VEHICLE. GROUND WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE THEN ENTERED A SHALLOW DESCENT AND ROLLED INTO INVERTED FLIGHT. THE LEFT WING STRUCK THE GROUND, WHILE INVERTED, AND THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO CARTWHEEL. THE MAIN FUSELAGE AREA WAS FOUND ABOUT 2000 FEET FROM THE INITIAL WING IMPACT POINT. THE POST ACCIDENT WRECKAGE EXAMINATION DSCLSD NO EVIDENCE OF ANY PREIMPACT MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES. NO MEDICAL EVIDENCE WAS FOUND TO INDICATE ANY CONDITION TO IMPAIR THE PLT. THE PLT HAD ATTEMPTED TO EJECT FROM THE ACFT. THE SEAT HAD FIRED AND THE SEAT WAS FOUND 52 FT NORTH OF THE FUSELAGE AREA. THE PLTS PARACHUTE HAD DEPLOYED AND WAS FOUND ADJACENT TO THE COCKPIT AREA.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N444AV](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N444AV-2014-11-26), registration cancelled 2014-11-26, S/N 14219, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DOUGLAS A-4A
- Registry model: [Douglas/Atv A-4A](https://openairdocs.org/model/douglas-atv-a-4a) (registry code 3021007) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Wright J65-W series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/wright-j65-w-series) (registry code 67039, turbo-jet) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 14219
- Airframe hours: 1222
- Engines: WRIGHT J-65-16WA 7700 lbs thrust turbo jet
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Other work use, Part 91
- Operator: Advanced Aeronautical Entprise, doing business as Neeley Assocates
- Registered owner: Advanced Aeronautical
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: 100 hour, December 2, 1986, 14 hours before
- Departed: MHV, MOJAVE, CA
- Airport: L71, California City

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, expired; seat: center; toxicology performed; flight hours: 5,000 total, 756 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 45 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: EDW, 16 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19870604018339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870604018339A), Jun 4, 1987: Airpts A4, California City, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Crashed during filming of commercial after low level inverted flight.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.