E J Humphrey CHRISTEN EAGLE II N44ED

Summary

On 9 September 2000 at about 20:35 local time, a E J Humphrey CHRISTEN EAGLE II registered N44ED, operated by Paul T. Onofrey, was involved in an accident near Lake Elsinore, 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.

Date

9 September 2000 at 20:35

Classification

Accident

Location

Lake Elsinore, California, United States

Coordinates

34.5009, -117.2897

Aircraft

E J Humphrey CHRISTEN EAGLE II

Registration

N44ED

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Paul T. Onofrey

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Chino → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX00LA331

2 people died.

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from ground obstacles that resulted in an in-flight collision with a tree, while intentionally maneuvering at a low altitude, and the pilot's inattentive visual lookout.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

As the pilot maneuvered at a low altitude to afford the passenger the opportunity to photograph the landscape, the airplane collided with a tree and terrain. The airplane impacted the ground 85 feet from the tree and came to rest 320 feet from the tree. A postimpact fire erupted which destroyed the airplane. The Federal Aviation Administration coordinator reported that flight visibility from the rear seat, where the pilot was situated, was somewhat restricted. The continuity of the flight control system was verified, and no evidence was observed of any preimpact malfunction with any of the examined wreckage.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.