# Accident 20170427004489A: Nanchang China YAK-18A, Keene, CA, April 27, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 27, 2017, 14:45 local time
- Place: Keene, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.1958° N, 118.5036° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1958&lon=-118.5036&mi=10
- Aircraft: N192NG, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N192NG-2020-08-02) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Nanchang China YAK-18A (registry code 05618Z9, https://openairdocs.org/model/nanchang-china-yak-18a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG (registry code 99999, https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: NANCHANG CHINA YAK-18A
- Reported engine: AMA/EXPR UNKNOWN ENG
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 500 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR17FA091](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17FA091) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170427004489A

## Narrative

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

WHILE ENROUTE FROM APV TO PTV IN A FOUR PLANE FORMATION FLIGHT, NEARING TEHACHAPI, CA, AT APPROXIMATELY 7500? MSL, MAINTAINING SEPARATION FROM AN OVERCAST TO BROKEN CLOUD LAYER THROUGHOUT THE AREA, THE FLIGHT BEGAN A SHALLOW DESCENT.  DURING THE DESCENT THE LEAD PILOT LOST SIGHT OF THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT (WHO WAS POSITIONED IN THE NUMBER TWO POSITION) AND ASKED THE ACCIDENT PILOT IF HE WAS OKAY.  THE ACCIDENT PILOT RESPONDED TO THE LEAD PILOT THAT HE WAS OKAY.

A SHORT TIME LATER, ANOTHER PILOT IN THE FORMATION FLIGHT, OBSERVED THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT FLY INTO A CLOUD LAYER WHILE IN A WINGS LEVEL, SLIGHTLY NOSE LOW ATTITUDE. ALL ATTEMPTS TO REESTABLISH VISUAL AND RADIO CONTACT WITH THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT WERE UNSUCCESSFUL.

A WITNESS IN A VEHICLE OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT EXITING THE CLOUD LAYER IN AN ALMOST VERTICAL ATTITUDE AND LOST SIGHT OF IT BEHIND A MOUNTAIN.  THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED HILLY TERRAIN, APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES NORTHEAST OF KEENE, CA.  ALL MAJOR STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS OF THE AIRCRAFT WERE LOCATED WITHIN 100 FEET OF THE MAIN WRECKAGE.

## 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 WPR17FA091](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17FA091), Apr 27, 2017: Nanchang CJ6A (N192NG), Keene, CA, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control following a descent into clouds.

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.

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