- Date
- March 19, 1994, 14:02 local (21:02 UTC)
- Place
- Mesa, AZ
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N31518Fighter Rebuilders F-2G
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 14, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940319005959A
- Case key
- 28700
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the airplane sustained a total loss of power and an in-flight fire for undetermined reasons.
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 pilot was participating in an unlimited category air race when the engine began to smoke and run rough. The pilot climbed the airplane to set-up for an emergency landing, but the airplane caught fire. The pilot bailed out and was struck by the left horizontal stabilizer. The engine disintegrated on impact.
Factual narrative
On March 19, 1994, at 1402 hours mountain standard time, a Fighter Rebuilders F-2G (aka Corsair), N31518, crashed in an open field at Mesa, Arizona. The pilot was participating in a local visual flight rules unlimited category air race. The airplane, registered to and operated by Fighter Rebuilders, Chino, California, was destroyed. The certificated commercial pilot, the sole occupant, sustained serious injuries. None of the spectators were injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at Williams Gateway Airport, Mesa, Arizona, at 1332 hours.
Mr. Wayne McKinney, Aviation Safety Inspector, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Scottsdale [Arizona] Flight Standards District Office, was present at the air race when the accident occurred. McKinney reported that while participating in the air race the engine "exploded." The pilot could climb the airplane to a sufficient altitude, and bailed out. The airplane disintegrated on impact.
The operator submitted a Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2. The pilot stated in the report that during the race the engine began smoking and was running rough. He immediately executed a climb to set up for an emergency landing. During the climb, the airplane became engulfed in fire. When the airplane reached sufficient altitude, the pilot bailed out. The pilot sustained injuries when he struck the airplane's left horizontal stabilizer.
The engine disintegrated on impact and could not be examined.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N31518
- Reported as
- Fighter Rebuilders F-2G
- Category
- Airplane
- Engine
- P&W R-4360-63, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- In-Flight
- Flight
- Other work use · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Fighter Rebuilders
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed
- IWA
- Airport
- IWA · Williams Gateway
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
- 32
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 2,100 total · 100 in this make and model · 2,000 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 170° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 64 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.