What happened
The pilot, who was employed as a driver for a rock group, removed an aircraft from its hangar without authorization to provide joyride flights for members of the band. During the second flight of this unauthorized series, the aircraft conducted several low passes over the area. On one of these passes, the wing of the aircraft struck a bus. Following the impact with the bus, the aircraft continued forward and collided with a tree and a residential structure. A fire broke out after the crash occurred.
The investigation
Investigation into the incident revealed that the pilot's last medical certificate was dated November 16, 1979, indicating a significant lapse in certification status at the time of the operation. The sequence of events began with the unauthorized removal of the aircraft from its storage location. The subsequent flight path involved low-altitude maneuvers that resulted in the wing striking a ground vehicle, which then led to the final impact with stationary objects and the ensuing fire.
Findings
The primary factors contributing to this accident included the unauthorized use of the aircraft for joyrides and the lapse of the pilot's medical certificate. The pilot's actions in removing the aircraft without permission set the stage for the incident. The low-pass maneuvers performed during the second flight directly led to the collision with the bus, which was a critical factor in the subsequent loss of control and impact with the tree and residence.