Mallian ROCKET II N789JM

Summary

On 3 March 2007 at about 17:45 local time, a Mallian ROCKET II registered N789JM was involved in an accident near Arvin, California, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

3 March 2007 at 17:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Arvin, California, United States

Coordinates

35.2233, -118.8419

Aircraft

Mallian ROCKET II

Registration

N789JM

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Mojave → Bakersfield

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX07LA099

1 person died.

Loss of control during cruise for undetermined reasons.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

A flight of six airplanes, including the accident airplane, were returning back to their home airport following a morning flight. The route of flight took the group of airplanes over a local mountain range, which had turbulent weather conditions. Another pilot in the group reported that the winds aloft were between 40 to 70 knots over the mountains, and that he and his passenger were thrown about inside the cockpit. The pilot further reported that during the flight back, there were no radio communications from the accident pilot. Witnesses reported seeing the airplane flying low and fast over a vineyard, and it was then observed in a nose-down attitude that continued to ground impact on flat terrain. The witnesses did not hear any unusual engine sounds prior to the airplane's impact with the ground. The accident site was about 8 miles from the mountain range. Radar data showed that a target identified as the accident airplane was established at 4,900 feet (4,400 agl) at 250 knots. The radar target was then observed to enter a rapid descent to 2,800 feet (2,300 feet agl) prior to dropping off the radar. An inspection of the airframe and engine revealed no obvious mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.