Luckett FLYBABY 1A N71658

Summary

On 29 March 1996 at about 00:42 local time, a Luckett FLYBABY 1A registered N71658 was involved in an accident near Castiac, California, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

29 March 1996 at 00:42

Classification

Accident

Location

Castiac, California, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Luckett FLYBABY 1A

Registration

N71658

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Bakersfield → Chino

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX96LA146

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot's improper in-flight planning/decision. The terrain condition and low ceiling were related factors.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The accident site was in a pass at the southern end of a mountain valley. A major interstate highway traversed the mountains through this valley. The pass at the southern end of the valley was characterized by rapidly rising and narrowing terrain. U.S. Forest Service workers near the site reported that the pass and the surrounding terrain was obscured by clouds which went to the ground. The aircraft collided with the side of a mountain about 300 feet above the elevation of the highway. An FAA inspector went to the accident site, interviewed witnesses, and examined the aircraft. He reported that the aircraft was traveling southbound over the highway as it approached the pass. The aircraft collided with the terrain as the pilot attempted to turn around in the narrow pass. Control system continuity could not be established throughout the aircraft due to extensive airframe crush deformation. Fuel was present in the tank and no discrepancies were found in the engine.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.