# NTSB LAX88FA015: Dassault-Breguet DA 10, N121FJ, Rancho Murieta, CA, October 15, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 15, 1987, 15:28 local (22:28 UTC)
- Place: Rancho Murieta, CA
- Coordinates: 38.509174, -121.119575 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5092&lon=-121.1196&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 2, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25782
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX88FA015
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25782/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX88FA015

## Probable cause

IN FLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL BY THE PILOT FLYING WHILE PERFORMING AN INTENTIONAL LOW LEVEL AEROBATIC MANEUVER.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - aerobatics - intentional, pilot in command (cause)
  - ostentatious display, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - flight controls - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE ACFT FLEW TO THE ARPT FOR A SALES DEMO FLT. THE CREW BOARDED THE ACFT AND TAXIED OUT FOR DEP. WITNESSES, INCLUDING TWO PLTS WITH AEROBATIC EXP, WATCHED THE ACFT DEP, MAKE A LEFT TRAFFIC PATTERN AND DO A LOW FLY-BY DOWN THE RWY. AT THE DEP END OF THE RWY, THE ACFT PITCHED UP INTO A STEEP CLIMB. AT 600 FT AGL, THE ACFT ENTERED A LEFT AILERON ROLL, WHICH THE WITNESSES SAID WAS 'SMOOTH, COORDINATED AND WITH THE NOSE ON THE POINT.' AT THE INVERTED POINT OF THE ROLL, THE ROLL CHANGED FROM AN AILERON TO A BARREL ROLL. ONE PILOT WITNESS SAID THAT IT APPEARED THE 'CREW LOST IT AT THE TOP' AND THAT THE CREW 'HELD THE BACK PRESSURE TOO LONG AT THE TOP.' AT THE 270 DEG POINT OF THE ROLL, THE ACFT WAS SEEN TO 'FALL OUT' OR 'DISH OUT' OF THE ROLL; IT RECOVERED TO WINGS LEVEL FLT AT ABOUT 100 FT AGL IN A VERY NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE SETTLING INTO THE GROUND WITH A HIGH VERTICAL DESCENT RATE. NO PREIMPACT ENG OR CONTROL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS WERE FOUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N121FJ (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: DASSAULT-BREGUET DA 10
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 192
- Airframe hours: 475
- Engines: GARRETT TFE 731-2-2A 3500 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Operator: Falcon Jet Corporation
- Registered owner: Falcon Jet Corporation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, January 7, 1987, 72 hours before
- Departed: 0Q7
- Destination: SJC, SAN JOSE, CA
- Airport: 0Q7, Rancho Murieta, runway 22, 3,800 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 8,407 total, 1,200 in this make and model, 6,346 as pilot in command, 97 in the last 90 days, 44 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: MHR, 10 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 19871015059779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871015059779A), Oct 15, 1987: Amd FALCOND, Rancho Murieta, CA, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Made low pass after takeoff. Began an aileron roll on steep pull up, lost it inverted. Rolled upright prior to impact

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.