Reed GLASAIR III SH-3R N2XZ

Summary

On 23 October 2010 at about 20:32 local time, a Reed GLASAIR III SH-3R registered N2XZ was involved in an accident near Lake Mathews, California, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

23 October 2010 at 20:32

Classification

Accident

Location

Lake Mathews, California, United States

Coordinates

33.8461, -117.4239

Aircraft

Reed GLASAIR III SH-3R

Registration

N2XZ

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Corona Muni. → Corona Muni.

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR11FA027

2 people died.

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from terrain while maneuvering at low altitude beneath a cloud layer.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Review of recorded radar data found a flight track that was consistent with the airplane's high performance capabilities, with its departure point, and ultimately with the accident site. The radar data indicated that a few seconds after the airplane passed over the runway's end, it turned toward the southeast, accelerated to about 190 knots ground speed, and proceeded directly toward the accident site area around a lake. No mode C altitude data was transmitted by the transponder. Upon arrival over the lake, the airplane made two counterclockwise oval-shaped 360-degree turns, with the steepest bank performed as the airplane approached the lake's eastern shoreline. The last radar return was located over the lake's eastern shoreline and within 250 feet of the wreckage location. Based on weather reports from an airport 7 miles northeast of the accident site, an overcast or broken cloud layer at 2,500 feet above ground level likely existed over the accident site. Based on an examination of the crater and airplane wreckage, the airplane impacted the ground at a high airspeed while descending in a slight bank and with the airplane's longitudinal axis pitched downward (nose low) between 55 and 70 degrees. The impact signatures could be consistent with the pilot attempting either a loop or split "S"-type maneuver at an altitude insufficient to recover. There were no witness reports and postaccident examination of the wreckage did not reveal any evidence of a preimpact mechanical malfunction or failure of any airframe or engine component or system.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.