Accident Occurred On Takeoff From Oxnard Airport

An accident involving a modified Vans airplane belonging to James Ayres, president of Less Drag Products in Newbury Park, CA, fatally injured Ayres and his passenger, identified as Donald "Craig" Templeton of Agoura Hills.

The two were departing Oxnard Airport (KOXR) in Oxnard, CA, Saturday about mid-day when the aircraft went down. According to the FAA's preliminary report, the "experimental Less Drag Special crashed under unknown circumstances into a field. The two persons on board were fatally injured."

The aircraft was listed as destroyed, and images from the accident site show little resembling an airplane left of the aircraft.

Doug Robertson posted on the aviation forum Airport-Data.com that witnesses said the airplane experienced engine problems just after takeoff from KOXR. He posted a photo of the intact airplane on the forum, showing a 4 blade scimitar prop. The FAA lists the airplane as being powered by a Lycoming IO-540-D4B5 engine.

Reports differ on the Vans kit on which the Less Drag Special was based. Roberson said on the Airport-Data.com forum that it was an RV-8, but television station KEYT reports that it was an RV-4. It is listed by the FAA simply as "Less Drag Special."

The airplanes most recent airworthiness certificate was issued March 5, 2010.

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