Aircraft May Have Become Airborne With Flight Controls Secured

The crash of an experimental weight-shift aircraft at the Torrance, CA airport (TOA) last week critically injured the pilot, and took the life of his passenger.

According to a report sent in to ANN by friends of pilot Jon Thornburgh, the 64-year-old instructor and his passenger, 33-year-old Ryan Mouritsen, were preparing Thornburgh's trike for flight February 26 when the aircraft's engine unexpectedly revved up, causing the craft to become airborne before its flight controls were released from a secured "parked" configuration.

The reportedly trike climbed steeply to an altitude of about 100 feet before spiraling into the ground, critically injuring Thornburgh and fatally injuring Mouritsen. The Daily Breeze reports Anshul Mishra, owner of Torrance-based Benbow Aviation, witnessed the incident and rushed to the scene, located between the airport's parallel runways. Mishra and friends pulled the two men from the wreckage.

Mishra said Mouritsen "was in bad shape. When I laid him down, his mouth was full of blood. (Thornburgh) asked not once, but three times, 'How is the student? How is the student?'"

Mouritsen later succumbed to his injuries after being taken to County Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. Reports indicate Thornburgh suffered a cracked pelvis and a broken leg. His condition has since been upgraded, and is no longer considered critical.

Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor said that initial examination of the wreckage showed the incident may have been caused by a mechanical problem. "There's some indication that the throttle might have gotten stuck," Gregor said.

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating.

(Editor's Note: From 2002 through 2005, Thornburgh (right) was a frequent contributor to ANN on matters related to weight-shift aircraft, and the then-emerging light sport aircraft rules. ANN wishes him a speedy recovery, and extends our condolences to the family of the victim.)

IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 426MT        Make/Model: EXP       Description: TWIN 503SL GLIDER
  Date: 02/27/2009     Time: 0508

  Event Type: Accident   Highest Injury: Serious     Mid Air: N    Missing: N
  Damage: Substantial

LOCATION
  City: TORRANCE   State: CA   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  AIRCRAFT WHILE TAXIING, BECAME AIRBORNE AND CRASHED OFF THE RUNWAY,
  TORRANCE, CA

INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   0
                 # Crew:   1     Fat:   0     Ser:   1     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Pass:   1     Fat:   0     Ser:   1     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Grnd:         Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   

WEATHER: KTOA 270350Z 00000KT 15SM SCT020 12/10 A3013

OTHER DATA
  Activity: Pleasure      Phase: Taxi      Operation: OTHER

  FAA FSDO: LONG BEACH, CA  (WP05)                Entry date: 02/27/2009

FMI: www.faa.gov, www.ntsb.gov