Avions Mudry CAP-10B accident near Santa Paula, California, February 15, 1992
On February 15, 1992 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Avions Mudry CAP-10B, registered N64ND, was destroyed in an accident near Santa Paula, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE AIRPLANES'S LEFT WING SPAR DUE TO STRESS OVERLOADING CAUSED BY PRE-EXISTING COMPRESSION FAILURES IN THE LAMINATE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 15, 1992 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Santa Paula, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Avions Mudry CAP-10B
- Registration
- N64ND · no longer on the register · serial 175
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
IN HIS WRITTEN STATEMENT, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE STARTED A LOOP AT ABOUT 4,500 FEET ABOVE MEAN SEA LEVEL. HE ENTERED THE MANEUVER AT 160 MPH AND 'PULLED 5 TO 5 1/2 G'S (EST).' HE STATED THAT WHEN THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN A 45 DEGREE NOSE UP ATTITUDE, HE HEARD A 'LOUD BANG.' HE REMOVED HIS SEAT BELTS (2), EXITED THE AIRPLANE, AND PARACHUTED TO SAFETY. AN EXAMINATION OF THE ACCIDENT SITE AND AIRPLANE REVEALED THE LEFT WING FAILED AND DEPARTED THE AIRCRAFT DURING THE LOOP MANEUVER. A LABORATORY EXAMINATION OF THE FAILED WOODEN WING REVEALED, IN PART '...THAT FAILURE OCCURRED PROBABLY BECAUSE OF OVERLOADING OF THE SPAR.' THE LABORATORY REPORT FURTHER STATED 'THE VERY BRASH FAILURE COMPLETELY THROUGH THE CROSS-SECTIONAL AREA OF THE COMPRESSION LAMINATE SUGGESTS PRE-EXISTING COMPRESSION FAILURES IN THE LAMINATE BEFORE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE THROUGH THE CRITICAL LOADING AREA.'
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
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 20,000 hours in all; 21 in this make and model; 15,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,405 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 22, 1991; 102 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,829 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-360-B2F (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: CMA Camarillo CA at 7:35 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.