Ceridono VEGAS SPORT FLYER N169BC

Summary

On 1 May 2007 at about 14:15 local time, a Ceridono VEGAS SPORT FLYER registered N169BC was involved in an accident near Mountain Pass, 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

1 May 2007 at 14:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Mountain Pass, California, United States

Nearest airport

Sky Ranch (3L2)

Coordinates

35.7972, -115.7989

Aircraft

Ceridono VEGAS SPORT FLYER

Registration

N169BC

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Sandy Valley → Pahrump

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX07LA147

1 person died.

The loss of airplane control while maneuvering after takeoff for an undetermined reason.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The accident airplane was the second of two airplanes to takeoff for the intent of flying formation to another airport. The pilot of the first airplane reported that after takeoff, he made a turn to the north followed by a 360-degree turn to locate the second airplane. He saw the airplane following him around in the circle, and once he completed the circle, he again made a turn to the north and flew towards their destination. The first pilot thought that the accident pilot was following him, but when he arrived at their destination, he did not see the second airplane. The first pilot returned to the departure airport and noted a small fire off the end of the runway in the area where he had last seen the accident airplane. The first pilot stated that at no time during the flight did he hear a transmission from the accident pilot. There were no ground witnesses to the accident. The wreckage debris was in a confined area and came to rest about 30 feet from the ground scars constituting the first point of ground impact on the flat open terrain. The fuselage structure, cockpit, and engine suffered considerable impact and thermal damage. The airframe and engine were examined by FAA inspectors. Due to the impact and thermal damage only partial flight control continuity could be established. No preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures were identified.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.