# Accident 20080202011349A: Amtr HARMONRCKT, Maricopa, CA, February 2, 2008

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 2, 2008, 10:00 local time
- Place: Maricopa, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.9558° N, 119.4467° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9558&lon=-119.4467&mi=10
- Aircraft: N96KR, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N96KR-2017-04-07) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Kidd Chris HARMON ROCKET 2 (registry code 05611OR, https://openairdocs.org/model/kidd-chris-harmon-rocket-2) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540 series (registry code 41530, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMTR HARMONRCKT
- Reported engine: LYC IO540*
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 2,560 total, 0 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA08LA070](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08LA070) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080202011349A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) THE PILOT  DEPARTED ON A LOCAL FLIGHT FROM A PRIVATE STRIP NEAR TAFT, CA AT APPROXIMATELY 0930PST ON 2/2/08. WHEN THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT RETURN BY 1630PST, THE PILOT'S FAMILY REPORTED IT WAS MISSING. THERE ARE NO WEATHER REPORTING FACILITIES IN THE AREA BUT A PIPELINE PATROL PILOT REPORTED CLOUDS AND GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS IN THE VICINITY AT THE APPROXIMATE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS LOCATED ON THE SIDE OF A HILL APPROXIMATELY 18 MILES SOUTH OF THE DEPARTURE POINT ON 2/6/08. IT IMPACTED THE EARTH IN A NW DIRECTION, AT HIGH SPEED LEAVING A CRATER APPROX. 3" DEEP. IT CARTWHEELED ANOTHER 100' LEAVING A SECOND IMPACT POINT AND CAME TO A REST APPROX 20' BEYOND THAT POINT. THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF A SMALL FIRE. NTSB RELEASED THE WRECKAGE AND AN FAA INSPECTOR EXAMINED IT AT A STORAGE FACILITY 5 DAYS LATER. HE OBSERVED EVIDENCE OF A SPIRAL DIVE WITH RIGHT WING IMPACT FOLLOWED BY IMPACT OF THE NOSE. DAMAGE TO THE PROPELLER INDICATED THE ENGINE WAS UNDER POWER AND THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL OR STRUCTURAL ANOMALIES NOTED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH ATTITUDE INSTRUMENTS AND THERE WAS NO ELT. FAMILY MEMBERS REPORTED TO AUTHORITIES THAT THE PILOT WAS KNOWN FOR "BUZZING" AND PERFORMING STUNTS.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB SEA08LA070](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08LA070), Feb 2, 2008: Kidd Chris Harmon ROC (N96KR), Maricopa, CA, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate terrain clearance altitude while maneuvering in mountainous, hilly terrain. Contributing to the accident were hilly terrain, a low ceiling and gusty winds.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.