Airborne Streak 2 accident near Lake Isabella, California, January 9, 2010
On January 9, 2010 at about 9:08 pm local time, a Airborne Streak 2 (weight-shift aircraft), registered N155TD, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (aerobatics) near Lake Isabella, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s performance of prohibited aerobatic flight maneuvers that exceeded the structural limits of the airplane, resulting in an in-flight breakup.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 9, 2010 · about 9:08 pm local time
- Place
- Lake Isabella, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Airborne Streak 2
- Registration
- N155TD · registry record · serial ST261
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Witnesses reported the pilot appeared to be performing aerobatic maneuvers and attempting to perform loops, as the airplane made numerous nose-high and nose-low maneuvers. Estimates of the airplane's altitude varied between 300 and 500 feet above ground level. The witnesses stated that the airplane was in level flight when the nose pointed down steeply 45-90 degrees, and then started to transition up. Just after the nose went above the horizon, the right wing folded upward. The engine then lost power and the airplane entered into a free fall. A post accident examination of the wreckage revealed that the fracture surface of the wing spar were consistent with overload forces being applied to the airframe. The pilot did not hold a pilot or medical certificate. Post-mortem toxicology testing on the pilot was consistent with use of methamphetamine, marijuana, and diazepam, but there was no urine or blood available for testing; therefore, it was not possible to estimate the last time when the substances might have been used or whether the pilot may have been impaired by that use. The operating limitations for the airplane noted that it was prohibited from aerobatic flight.
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
- Aircraft structural failure during maneuvering (aerobatics) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering (aerobatics)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft structures › Wing structure › Spar (on wing) › Capability exceeded
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
Pilot
- Medical certificate: None
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582DCDI (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Lake Isabella CA
- Destination: Lake Isabella CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 8,500 ft
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.27 inHg
- Observation at 8:56 pm from KNID, 38 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR10LA104.