Aircraft Recently Earned S-LSA Certification

Student pilot Robert Gaither, and instructor Doug Goodwin, are recovering from injuries they sustained when their Sport Hornet light aircraft went down Tuesday near Santa Paula Airport in Santa Paula, CA.

The pair's aircraft (type shown above) went down during a landing attempt about 100 yards from the runway when the engine reportedly lost power, according to the Ventura County Star. The light plane came to rest in a river bed.

Gaither and Goodwin were trapped in the plane for more than hour before being extricated by rescue personnel, then airlifted to Ventura County Medical Center.

The LSA took off from Ramona, CA northeast of San Diego Tuesday, said Federal Aviation Administration spokesperson Ian Gregor. The accident's cause is not immediately apparent, he said. 

Police said Goodwin suffered a moderate head injury and fractures to his shoulders and legs, while Gaither reportedly to have suffered lower extremity injuries. Both men are expected to recover.

As ANN reported, the Rotax 912-powered Sport Hornet aircraft recently earned ASTM certification in the S-LSA category for factory built light aircraft. The aircraft is manufactured by Higher Class Aviation in Ramona; the company's president is Robert Gaither.

IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 155HC        Make/Model: SPOR      Description: SPORT HORNET
  Date: 09/04/2007     Time: 0214

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

LOCATION
  City: SANTA PAULA   State: CA   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  AIRCRAFT ON LANDING, LOST POWER AND CRASHED INTO A SHALLOW RIVER, SANTA
  PAULA, CA

INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   0
                 # Crew:   2     Fat:   0     Ser:   2     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Pass:   0     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Grnd:         Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   

WEATHER: NOT REPORTED

OTHER DATA
  Activity: Pleasure      Phase: Landing      Operation: OTHER

  FAA FSDO: VAN NUYS, CA  (WP01)                  Entry date: 09/05/2007

FMI: www.santapaulaairport.org