# NTSB LAX89DVM04: Progress Aero R&D Discovery, N81D, Chualar, CA, July 2, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: July 2, 1989, 14:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Chualar, CA
- Coordinates: 36.569877, -121.440956 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.5699&lon=-121.4410&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report September 5, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26176
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX89DVM04
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26176/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89DVM04

## Probable cause

THE EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT'S INADVERTENT ENTRY INTO A NON-RECOVERABLE FLAT SPIN DURING A SLOW AIRSPEED TEST; THE AERODYNAMIC CHARACTERISTICS THAT PRODUCED THE SPIN WERE NOT DETERMINED.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, cruise
  - airspeed - reduced, pilot in command
  - stall/spin - inadvertent (cause)
  - remedial action - initiated, pilot in command
  - emergency procedure - performed, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE EXPERIMENTAL COMPOSITE STRUCTURED ACFT WAS ON A TEST FLT. DRG A SLOW AIRSPEED TEST, IT ENTERED A FLAT SPIN FROM WHICH THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO RECOVER BY USING NORMAL CONTROLS. THE ACFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH A BALLISTIC PARACHUTE. THE PLT DEPLOYED THE CHUTE & SHUT DOWN THE ENG. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN WITH A PARACHUTE DESCENT RATE OF ABOUT 1800 FT/MIN. DRG TOUCHDOWN, THE PLT SUFFERED NECK & BACK INJURIES. HE RPRTD THAT DRG THE FLT, ALL FLT CONTROL SURFACES RESPONDED NORMALLY TO HIS CONTROL INPUTS. THE AERODYNAMIC CHARACTERISTICS WHICH PRODUCED THE SPIN WERE NOT IDENTIFIED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N81D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N81D-2013-10-31), registration cancelled 2013-10-31, S/N 101, built 1988 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PROGRESS AERO R&D DISCOVERY
- Registry model: [Progress Aero R And D DISCOVERY](https://openairdocs.org/model/progress-aero-r-and-d-discovery) (registry code 05612UY) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 101
- Airframe hours: 50
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235 112 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 91
- Registered owner: Progress Aero R And D
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 1989, 50 hours before
- Departed: MRY, MONTEREY, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; flight engineer, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 12,000 total, 20 in this make and model, 11,000 as pilot in command, 175 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 125° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F
- Altimeter: 32.00 inHg

## 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 19890702019159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890702019159A), Jul 2, 1989: Amtr DISCOVERY, Chualar, CA, Substantial damage. Entered into an unintentional flat spin on a test flight. Unable to recover. Used ballistic chute. High impact forces

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.

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