# NTSB WPR26LA023: Hawker Hawker Hunter MK.58, N335AX, Big Sur, CA, October 15, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 15, 2025, 11:06 local (18:06 UTC) - Place: Big Sur, CA · 24 miles south of Monterey Bay and 6 miles west of Big Sur - Coordinates: 36.180833, -121.90916 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1808&lon=-121.9092&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report January 15, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 201896 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26LA023 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/201896/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201896 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA023 ## Probable cause A complete loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Hawker HAWKER HUNTER MK.58, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=4231004), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Hawker HAWKER HUNTER MK.58, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=4231004), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Hawker HAWKER HUNTER MK.58, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=4231004), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported he and one other airplane was providing adversary and tactical training for United States military aircrews. While enroute to the training area, at flight level 220, he was informed that the fighter element would be about 10 minutes late. To conserve fuel, he reduced the engine power and slowed the airplane. Shortly thereafter, the airplane experienced a complete loss of engine power. The pilot executed the engine malfunction checklist, attempted multiple restarts, however, despite his attempts, the engine would not restart. Concerned that the airplane did not have sufficient altitude and in the interest of public safety due to overcast cloud layer over the nearest airport, the pilot elected to eject over the Pacific Ocean. The airplane was not recovered from the ocean, and the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N335AX](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N335AX-2025-12-15), registration cancelled 2025-12-15, S/N 41H-697458, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: HAWKER AIRCRAFT LTD HAWKER HUNTER MK.58 - Registry model: [Hawker HAWKER HUNTER MK.58](https://openairdocs.org/model/hawker-hawker-hunter-mk-58) (registry code 4231004) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rolls-Royce AVON MK 203](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-avon-mk-203) (registry code 54230, turbo-jet) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 41H-697458 - Year built: 1959 - Engines: ROLLS-ROYC AVON MK 203 10150 lbs thrust turbo jet - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Public aircraft - federal, Armed forces - Operator: Airborne Tactical Advantage Co - Registered owner: Hunter Aviation International Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: AAIP, August 19, 2025, 124 hours before - Departed: KNTD, Oxnard, CA - Destination: KNTD, Oxnard, CA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: KMRY, Monterey Regional Airport - Equipment: ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: minor; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 26, 2025; seat: single; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 5,228 total, 1,573 in this make and model, 4,953 as pilot in command, 53 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,400 ft overcast - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: KMRY, 17 nm away - METAR: METAR KMRY 151754Z 00000KT 10SM BKN030 OVC044 16/07 A3010 RMK AO2 SLP203 T01610067 10161 20117 51013= ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 15, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201896. 2.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 13 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19710035&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR26LA023%20-%20NTSB%20Form%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, vp of safety (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 128 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19709892&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20Operator%20%20Phone%20Interview-Rel.pdf - Atac 12 15OCT incident report (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 54 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19667699&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ATAC%2012%2015OCT%20Incident%20Report%20ATAC%2011-Rel.pdf 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.