Alon A2 accident near Orland, California, September 17, 1994
On September 17, 1994 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Alon A2, registered N37698, was destroyed in an accident near Orland, California. It was a personal 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 pilot's intentional performance of an aerobatic maneuver which overloaded the outboard portion of the left wing and caused it to fail. Factors which contributed to the accident were the pilot's overconfidence in his ability to perform the maneuver and his lack of experience or training in aerobatics.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 17, 1994 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Orland, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Alon A2 · all A2s on the register
- Registration
- N37698 · no longer on the register · serial A-173
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A LOCAL AREA PERSONAL FLIGHT, THE PILOT PERFORMED AN AEROBATIC MANEUVER. NO ONE OBSERVED THE ACTUAL MANEUVER; HOWEVER, ONE WITNESS SAW THE AIRPLANE SECONDS PRIOR TO THE CRASH, AND HE INDICATED THE AIRPLANE WAS FALLING 'LIKE A ROCK.' THE OUTBOARD 3-FOOT-LONG PORTION OF THE LEFT WING WAS FOUND IN AN OPEN FIELD ABOUT 200 YARDS FROM THE MAIN WRECKAGE. PRIOR TO THE PILOT'S TAKEOFF, HE HAD INFORMED AN ACQUAINTANCE THAT HE PLANNED TO 'DO SOME ROLLS.' A WEEK EARLIER, THE PILOT TOLD HIS WIFE THAT HE WANTED TO TRY TO ROLL HIS AIRPLANE. THE PILOT HAD NOT RECEIVED AEROBATIC FLIGHT TRAINING, AND THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT CERTIFICATED TO PERFORM ROLLS. EXAMINATION OF THE LEFT AILERON AND LEFT WING STRUCTURE REVEALED PERMANENT DEFORMATION IN AN UPWARD (POSITIVE) DIRECTION. FAA AIRWORTHINESS AND CERTIFICATION OFFICE PERSONNEL REPORTED NO SIGNS OF A DEVELOPING OR PREEXISTING CONDITION WHICH INDUCED FAILURE OF THE SEPARATED LEFT WING TIP.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 930 hours in all; 28 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 6, 1994; 38 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C85-12F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: O37 at 5:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.