20040321007219A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Univar A2ALON · Cameron Park, CA · March 21, 2004

Date: March 21, 2004 · 12:10 local
Place: Cameron Park, CA
Airport: Cameron Airpark Airport
Phase of flight: Forced/Precautionary Landing
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N6374V
NTSB investigation: NTSBLAX04FA168
Reported as: Univar A2ALON
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 2
Pilot’s flight hours: 1,334 total110 in this make and model10 in the last 90 days

N6374VRegistration cancelled Sep 17, 2004 · Alon A2S/N A-50 · Built 1965 Airframe modelAlon A2 Engine modelContinental C90 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) During the initial climb from Cameron airport, Cameron Park, CA, N6374V experienced a loss of engine power. The pilot reversed course and commenced heading back towards the departure airport, whereupon control of the airplane was lost. A pilot who had taken off immediately after the accident aircraft heard the pilot broadcast the following statement on the CTAF: "74 victor starting a left turn to return to the airport." A witness on the ground indicated that the airplane's engine was making a very low constant tone humming sound, and it was not revving up. Initially, the airplane's wings and nose were level with the horizon. Suddenly, the airplane turned left. The nose went "straight down" and the airplane rapidly descended while reversing course. The witness was in a parking lot .36 nautical miles south of the accident site.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB FROM CAMERON AIRPORT, CAMERON PARK, CA, N6374V EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE PILOT REVERSED COURSE AND COMMENCED HEADING BACK TOWARDS THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT, WHEREUPON CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE WAS LOST. A PILOT WHO HAD TAKEN OFF IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT HEARD THE PILOT BROADCAST THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT ON THE CTAF: "74 VICTOR STARTING A LEFT TURN TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT." A WITNESS ON THE GROUND INDICATED THAT THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE WAS MAKING A VERY LOW CONSTANT TONE HUMMING SOUND, AND IT WAS NOT REVVING UP. INITIALLY, THE AIRPLANE'S WINGS AND NOSE WERE LEVEL WITH THE HORIZON. SUDDENLY, THE AIRPLANE TURNED LEFT. THE NOSE WENT "STRAIGHT DOWN" AND THE AIRPLANE RAPIDLY DESCENDED WHILE REVERSING COURSE. THE WITNESS WAS IN A PARKING LOT .36 NAUTICAL MILES SOUTH OF THE ACCIDENT SITE.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB LAX04FA168Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCameron Park, CAThe pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed while maneuvering for a forced landing, which resulted in a stall/spin. Also causal was the partial loss of engine power due to improperly secured magnetos.Mar 21, 2004 · Destroyed