On August 31, 1986, a Great Lakes 2T-1A-2 (registration N10SV) operated by Channel Island Aviation was involved in an aviation accident near Santa Paula, CA. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A biplane crashed in mountainous terrain after losing engine power during aerobatic maneuvers. The pilot attempted a restart while a commercial pilot passenger took controls, but the engine did not regain sufficient power.
Accident Overview
A biplane lost power while performing aerobatics and subsequently crashed in mountainous terrain. The aircraft had been conducting aerobatic maneuvers prior to the engine failure.
Sequence of Events
The pilot reported that the engine quit at 7,500 feet above mean sea level while the biplane was in a descent. Control of the aircraft was transferred to the front seat occupant, who held a commercial pilot certificate and was current in the aircraft. The pilot in the rear seat then attempted to restart the engine.
Outcome
The engine restarted but did not produce enough power to prevent a collision with the terrain. The front seat pilot continued to fly the aircraft until the moment of impact.