Aero Vodochody L39C accident near Davenport, Iowa, September 1, 2012
On September 1, 2012 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Aero Vodochody L39C, registered N139GS, was destroyed in an accident during maneuvering (aerobatics) near Davenport, Iowa. It was an air show or air race flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of airplane control for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded operation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 1, 2012 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Davenport, Iowa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aero Vodochody L39C · all L39Cs on the register
- Registration
- N139GS · no longer on the register · serial 432833
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Air show or air race flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The accident airplane was part of a 3 airplane airshow demonstration performance. After overflying the spectators and flying away from the flightline, the airplanes were executing a crossover break maneuver, which the accident airplane was in the left wing position. During the crossover break maneuver, the lead airplane first entered a climbing maneuver, the left wing position airplane entered a right turn, and then the right wing position airplane entered a left turn with adequate longitudinal spacing. During the maneuver, the accident airplane entered the right turn, descended, and impacted the terrain. A post-impact fire ensued. No evidence of any in-flight collision with the other airplanes was observed. Witnesses reported that they did not observe any movement of the airplane's flight control surfaces prior to the airplane impacting terrain, which would be inconsistent with the pilot attempting to recover from the descent. No preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures were noted with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control in flight during maneuvering (aerobatics) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,500 hours in all; 600 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Ivchenko AL-25TL (turbojet); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: DVN Davenport IA at 6:15 pm
- Destination: DVN Davenport IA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,000 ft; scat at 2,300 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 6:47 pm from DVN, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.