Gough-Herrman CHRISTEN EAGLE II N331GH
14 March 1998 · Lake Berryessa, California, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 14 March 1998 at about 21:43 local time, a Gough-Herrman CHRISTEN EAGLE II registered N331GH was involved in an accident near Lake Berryessa, California, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 21:43
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Lake Berryessa, California, United States
- Coordinates
- 38.2491, -122.3097
- Aircraft
- Gough-Herrman CHRISTEN EAGLE II
- Registration
- N331GH
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Vacaville → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX98FA112
People
2 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
was the pilot-in-command's failure to maintain control of the aircraft. Contributing to the accident was the improper altitude.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
Witnesses observed the aircraft flying over the lake about 1,000 feet or less. They reported that the aircraft rolled inverted, flew for about 5 or 6 seconds, pitched downward, rotated 90 degrees, and impacted the water in a near vertical attitude. According to the designer/kit manufacturer, and based on the estimated weight and balance information, the aircraft was forward of the aerobatic weight envelope.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Oct 1998 | Cessna 152 | Avalon, California, United States | Orange County Flight Center | Fatal | 1 |
| 5 Oct 1998 | Grumman TS-2A | Banning, California, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 15 Aug 1998 | North American NAVION | Salinas, California, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 21 Aug 1998 | Bell 206B | Salinas, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 21 Aug 1998 | Robinson R22B | Ramona, California, United States | Civic Helicopters | No injuries | - |
| 27 Aug 1998 | Aerospatiale SA316B | Porterville, California, United States | U.s. Dept. of the Interior | No injuries | - |