• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

This space for binding WPR11FA304 N6451X National Transportation Safety Board NTSB ID: Aircraft Registration Number: FACTUAL REPORT Occurrence Date: 07/03/2011 Most Critical Injury: Fatal AVIATION Occurrence Type: Accident Investigated By: NTSB Location/Time Nearest City/Place State Zip Code Local Time Time Zone Santa Paula CA 93060 2021 PDT Airport Proximity: Off Airport/Airstrip Distance From Landing Facility: 2 Aircraft Information Summary Aircraft Manufacturer Model/Series Type of Aircraft CESSNA 180D Airplane Revenue Sightseeing Flight: No Air Medical Transport Flight: No Narrative Brief narrative statement of facts, conditions and circumstances pertinent to the accident/incident: *** Note: NTSB investigators either traveled in support of this investigation or conducted a significant amount of investigative work without any travel, and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report. *** HISTORY OF FLIGHT On July 3, 2011, about 2021 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 180D, N6451X, was substantially damaged when it struck a telephone line that spanned across the Santa Clara River, about 1.8 miles south- southwest of the Santa Paula Airport (SZP), Santa Paula, California. The commercial pilot and his passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was registered to a private individual and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Dusk visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from SZP about 2000. A witness, who was a rated pilot, reported to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) that he was located at SZP, and observed the airplane during a portion of the accident flight. The witness stated that the accident pilot initiated the flight by performing a short field takeoff and performed two circuits around the traffic pattern. During the third takeoff, the airplane turned left, overflew the south side of the airport, and proceeded toward the Santa Clara River at an approximate altitude of about 100 feet above ground level (agl). The witness further stated that the airplane did not gain additional altitude, and that he lost sight of the airplane while it was flying in a westerly direction over the river. During the entire time the witness observed the airplane, its engine sounded normal. A witness standing on a hillside about 450 feet south-southeast of the accident site reported to the NTSB IIC that he heard the airplane's engine for a few seconds before the crash. The witness stated that he did not observe the accident sequence, however, immediately after the engine sound stopped, he observed a fire in the Santa Clara River bed. The witness immediately proceeded toward the fire and observed the accident airplane engulfed in flames. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot, age 43, held a commercial pilot certificate with airplane single-engine land and instrument airplane ratings. A second-class airman medical certificate was issued to the pilot on July 6, 2010, with no limitations stated. The pilot reported on his most recent medical certificate application that he had accumulated 1,930 total flight hours. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The four-seat, high-wing, conventional gear airplane, serial number (S/N) 18050951, was manufactured in 1960. It was powered by a Continental O-470-L (10) engine, serial number 069734-R, rated at 230 horse power. FACTUAL REPORT - AVIATION Page 1 This space for binding WPR11FA304 National Transportation Safety Board NTSB ID: FACTUAL REPORT Occurrence Date: 07/03/2011 AVIATION Occurrence Type: Accident Narrative (Continued) The airplane was also equipped with a McCauley adjustable pitch propeller. The most recent annual inspection was completed on February 15, 2011, at a total airframe time of 3,596.8 hours. The airframe, engine, and propeller logbooks were not located during the investigation. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION A review of recorded data from the Camarillo Airport automated weather observation station, located 6.8 miles south of the accident site, revealed at 1955, conditions were wind from 210 degrees at 5 knots, visibility 9 miles, sky clear, temperature 18 degrees Celsius, dew point 15 degrees Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 29.77 inches of mercury. According to data from the United States Naval Observatory, official sunset occurred at 2012, with the end of civil twilight at 2042. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION Examination of the accident site revealed that a downed telephone line, which was oriented in a north- south direction, spanned across the Santa Clara River between two poles. The wires were about 85 feet in height above the ground and both poles on either side of the river were about 15 feet higher than the telephone line. No line marking balls were observed. Airplane components consisting of wing tips, shattered navigation light lens fragments, plexiglas windscreen, and ground scar were located over an estimated 175-foot-long distance beginning about 180 feet southwest of the downed telephone line, oriented on a heading of about 220 degrees magnetic. Examination of the airframe revealed that the airplane's entire fuselage, including the cockpit and instrument panel, were consumed by a post ground impact fire. A cable mark was noted on the right wing leading edge about 12 inches outboard of the flap/aileron split. The mark was oriented approximately 45 degrees to the leading edge of the wing, inboard on the top of the wing to outboard on the bottom of the wing. Flight control continuity was established throughout the airplane to all primary flight control surfaces. Examination of the engine revealed that it was separated from the engine mount structure. The wye- ducting, carburetor, and an induction elbow were separated from the engine and located within the wreckage debris path. The engine exterior surfaces exhibited thermal discoloration. The magnetos remained attached to the engine and exhibited thermal discoloration to their housings. The cylinders were examined using a borescope and the piston heads and combustion chambers exhibited dark grey deposits. The valve heads were unremarkable. The crankshaft was rotated by hand and thumb compression was obtained on all six cylinders. Engine and valve train continuity was established throughout the engine. Spark was observed from all ignition leads while the crankshaft was rotated. The propeller remained attached to the crankshaft propeller flange and exhibited score marks in a chordwise direction, leading edge nicks and torsional deformation. MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION The Ventura County Medical Examiner conducted an autopsy on the pilot on July 4, 2011. The medical examiner determined that the cause of death was “...thermal injuries with smoke/soot inhalation.” The FAA's Civil Aeromedical Institute (CAMI) in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, performed toxicology tests on the pilot. According to CAMI's report, carbon monoxide, cyanide, volatiles, and drugs were tested, and had positive results for 18 percent carbon monoxide detected in blood. Updated on Apr 10 2013 10:06AM FACTUAL REPORT - AVIATION Page 1a This space for binding NTSB ID: National Transportation Safety Board WPR11FA304 FACTUAL REPORT Occurrence Date: 07/03/2011 AVIATION Occurrence Type: Accident Landing Facility/Approach Information Airport Name Airport ID: Airport Elevation Runway Used Runway Length Runway Width Santa Paula SZP 243 Ft. MSL N/A Runway Surface Type: Runway Surface Condition: Approach/Arrival Flown: NONE VFR Approach/Landing: None Aircraft Information Aircraft Manufacturer Model/Series Serial Number CESSNA 180D 18050951 Airworthiness Certificate(s): Normal Landing Gear Type: Tailwheel Amateur Built Acft? No Number of Seats: 4 Certified Max Gross Wt. 2650 LBS Number of Engines: 1 Engine Type: Engine Manufacturer: Model/Series: Rated Power: Reciprocating CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES 230 HP - Aircraft Inspection Information Type of Last Inspection Date of Last Inspection Time Since Last Inspection Airframe Total Time Annual 02/2011 Hours 3596 Hours - Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) Information ELT Installed?/Type Yes / Unknown No ELT Aided in Locating Accident Site? No Owner/Operator Information Registered Aircraft Owner Street Address RYAN PAUL G City State Zip Code SANTA MONICA CA 90405 Street Address Operator of Aircraft James McCaughley City State Zip Code Santa Paula CA 93060 Operator Does Business As: Operator Designator Code: - Type of U.S. Certificate(s) Held: None Air Carrier Operating Certificate(s): Operating Certificate: Operator Certificate: Regulation Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation Type of Flight Operation Conducted: Personal FACTUAL REPORT - AVIATION Page 2 This space for binding WPR11FA304 National Transportation Safety Board NTSB ID: FACTUAL REPORT Occurrence Date: 07/03/2011 AVIATION Occurrence Type: Accident First Pilot Information Name City State Date of Birth Age On File On File On File On File 43 Sex:M Seat Occupied: Left Occupational Pilot? No Certificate Number: On File Certificate(s): Commercial Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land Rotorcraft/Glider/LTA: None Instrument Rating(s): Airplane None Instructor Rating(s): Current Biennial Flight Review? Medical Cert.: Class 2 Medical Cert. Status: Without Waivers/Limitations Date of Last Medical Exam: 07/2010 This Make Airplane Airplane Instrument Lighter All A/C Night Rotorcraft Glider - Flight Time Matrix and Model Single Engine Mult-Engine Actual Simulated Than Air Total Time 1930 Pilot In Command(PIC)

Load more

  6

Copy Link