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North American F-86 Sabre/51-2988

Serial #: 51-2988
Construction #: 172-271
Civil Registration:
N86Z
Model: F-86F
Name: None
Status: Destroyed
Last info: 1987

History:
Dave Zeuschel Racing Engines, Chino, CA, Aug. 3, 1982-1987.
- Registered as N86Z.
- Recoverd from storage in California Orchard.
- Rebuilt to airworthy, Van Nuys.
- Flew as USAF/24513/FU-513.
- Crashed and destroyed, Shafter, CA, Apr. 25, 1987.
-- Zeuschel Killed.

NTSB Identification: LAX87DVA06 .
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, April 25, 1987 in SHAFTER, CA
Aircraft: NORTH AMERICAN F-86F, registration: N86Z
Injuries: 1 Fatal.

FOLLOWING AN AIRSHOW, THE PILOT TRANSMITTED WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH TO THE RUNWAY, THAT THE ENGINE HAD SEIZED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS LANDED WITH THE LANDING GEAR RETRACTED. DURING THE FLARE THE AIRCRAFT BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE, BOUNCED SEVERAL TIMES ON THE RUNWAY, AND BURST INTO FLAMES. POST CRASH INVESTIGATION CONFIRMED THAT THE ENGINE WAS NOT ROTATING (OR WINDMILLING) AND THAT THE EMERGENCY HYDRAULIC SYSTEM WAS NOT BEING USED. FURTHERMORE, THE EJECTION SEAT WAS DISABLED AND THE PILOT WAS NOT WEARING A PARACHUTE.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
TURBINE ASSEMBLY..FAILURE,TOTAL
EMERGENCY PROCEDURE..NOT PERFORMED..PILOT IN COMMAND

Contributing Factors
HYDRAULIC SYSTEM..NO PRESSURE

Source(s):
Joe Baugher's Serial Numbers Page
Chapman, John & Goodall, Geoff, Edited by Paul Coggan - Warbirds Directory,Warbirds Worldwide Ltd., Mansfield, England, 1989.

Photo Source(s):
warbirdcrew

Research Assistance:
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