Passadori Norman BREEZY N16KB

Summary

On 19 March 1997 at about 23:30 local time, a Passadori Norman BREEZY registered N16KB was involved in an accident near Gilroy, California, United States. 2 people were on board and one died, 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

19 March 1997 at 23:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Gilroy, California, United States

Coordinates

37.0603, -121.5500

Aircraft

Passadori Norman BREEZY

Registration

N16KB

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Hollister → San Jose

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX97LA127

1 person died.

The pilot's delayed decision to reverse course while climbing into rising terrain, and his failure to maintain an adequate airspeed margin which resulted in a stall/mush into trees and terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The passenger, also an airline transport pilot, reported that the pilot had fueled the aircraft to capacity before takeoff. The passenger was in the rear seat of the 125-horsepower aircraft as they climbed from takeoff toward a ridge line separating them from their sightseeing destination. They were climbing slowly up a canyon at low altitude when the pilot acknowledged that the aircraft was not climbing fast enough to clear the ridge. The pilot attempted to reverse course, but during the turn the aircraft mushed and the right wing struck a tree. The aircraft then cartwheeled onto the ground. The passenger stated that there were no mechanical problems with the aircraft.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.