On May 3, 2025, a PAUL BERKOVITZ VANS RV-10 (registration N626PB) was involved in an aviation accident near Simi Valley, CA. 2 people were killed. This summary draws on records from NTSB.
An experimental amateur-built Van's RV-10, N626PB, was destroyed in a fatal accident near Simi Valley, California, on May 3, 2025. The pilot and passenger were killed during a Part 91 personal flight.
Accident Overview and Flight Details On May 3, 2025, at approximately 1350 Pacific daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Van's RV-10, registration N626PB, was destroyed in an accident near Simi Valley, California. The pilot and passenger sustained fatal injuries. The aircraft was operating under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. The flight departed General Wm J. Fox Airfield (WJF) in Lancaster, California, at 1319, with an intended destination of Camarillo Airport (CMA). The flight was conducted under instrument flight rules. Recorded communications with Southern California Approach Control indicated that at 1335, the pilot was instructed to proceed direct to SESPE, the initial approach fix for the RNAV-Z runway 26 instrument approach, and join final. At 1343, the controller instructed the pilot to descend to 4,000 feet mean sea level (msl) and contact Point Mugu Approach. ## ADS-B Data and Flight Path Preliminary ADS-B data showed the aircraft crossed SESPE at 1343:50 at an altitude of approximately 5,000 feet msl, then turned left to a southerly heading. The aircraft continued south while descending to 4,195 feet msl at 1345:33. Over the next minute and five seconds, multiple heading deviations to the right and left were recorded. At 1346:49, the aircraft began a right turn approximately one mile north of JUREX, the RNAV-Z runway 26 intermediate fix, at 3,750 feet msl. ADS-B contact was lost at 1347:02 during a right descending turn. Contact was reestablished at 1347:21, with the aircraft on a northerly heading at 2,175 feet msl. Four seconds later, the aircraft began a left turn at 2,525 feet msl, climbing to a maximum of 2,770 feet msl at 1347:37 before contact was lost again. ADS-B contact was reestablished at 1347:53 at 1,720 feet msl on a south-southeasterly heading, which was the last recorded data point, located approximately 0.72 miles southwest of the accident site. ## Witness Accounts and Impact Sequence A pilot-rated witness near the accident site reported observing a cloud layer approximately 300 feet above ground level. Cell phone video from another witness showed the aircraft descending below the cloud layer, climbing back into the clouds, and then rapidly descending from the clouds in a nose-down attitude about six seconds later. Surveillance video from the southernmost residence struck by the aircraft showed the initial impact, a subsequent explosion, and a post-crash fire. The first identifiable point of impact was a set of palm trees in front of the southernmost residence. The wreckage debris field measured approximately 221 feet long by 150 feet wide, oriented on a heading of 240° magnetic at an accident site elevation of about 1,070 feet. ## Wreckage Distribution and Recovery Approximately 17 feet from the initial impact, an east-west stone block wall between two residential structures was damaged. The left wing struck a residential structure on the northern side of the wall, while the right wing struck another structure on the south side. The empennage, left and right wing spars, and carry-through spar were found within the wall debris. About 4 feet west of the wall, a 7-foot diameter area of disturbed dirt and vegetation contained fragments of the engine oil sump and propeller blades. The fuselage came to rest about 17 feet west of this area, with the engine located about 10 feet beyond the fuselage. All major structural components were located throughout the wreckage debris path. The wreckage was recovered to a secure facility for further examination.