What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On February 13, 2021 at 1555 PDT, N40TS, departed camarillo, CA, (cma), with the intended destination of Tehachapi, CA (tsp).
Per FAA ATC, FAA form 8020-9, la ARTCC, states aircraft crashed under unknown circumstances at 1627 PDT, 8.5 NM sse of tsp. The accident resulted in a fatal injury, with the aircraft destroyed by impact and post-crash fire.
Toxicology and autopsy pending.
NTSB reporting indicates that tsp weather at 1615 PDT, wind at 310 degrees, at 19 KTS, gusting to 26 KTS. National weather service had advisories current for turbulence over the region, and included g-airmet tango and a center weather advisory which bordered the area for severe turbulence below 15,000 ft.
Accident pilot's logbook has not been recovered; suspected to have been onboard the accident aircraft.
FAA onsite observations indicate accident aircraft encountered severe clear-air turbulence, and down-draft on the west side of the Tehachapi mountain range. Flightaware track showed the accident aircraft airspeed go from 180 KTS to under 50 KTS, and a steep drop in altitude. Suspected aircraft stalled/spinned into mountainous terrain. ADS-B tracking ceased at 1627 PDT.
As the FAA filed it
ON FEBRUARY 13, 2021 AT 1555 PDT, N40TS, DEPARTED CAMARILLO, CA, (CMA), WITH THE INTENDED DESTINATION OF TEHACHAPI, CA (TSP).
PER FAA ATC, FAA FORM 8020-9, LA ARTCC, STATES AIRCRAFT CRASHED UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES AT 1627 PDT, 8.5 NM SSE OF TSP. THE ACCIDENT RESULTED IN A FATAL INJURY, WITH THE AIRCRAFT DESTROYED BY IMPACT AND POST-CRASH FIRE.
TOXICOLOGY AND AUTOPSY PENDING.
NTSB REPORTING INDICATES THAT TSP WEATHER AT 1615 PDT, WIND AT 310 DEGREES, AT 19 KTS, GUSTING TO 26 KTS. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAD ADVISORIES CURRENT FOR TURBULENCE OVER THE REGION, AND INCLUDED G-AIRMET TANGO AND A CENTER WEATHER ADVISORY WHICH BORDERED THE AREA FOR SEVERE TURBULENCE BELOW 15,000 FT.
ACCIDENT PILOT'S LOGBOOK HAS NOT BEEN RECOVERED; SUSPECTED TO HAVE BEEN ONBOARD THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT.
FAA ONSITE OBSERVATIONS INDICATE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED SEVERE CLEAR-AIR TURBULENCE, AND DOWN-DRAFT ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE TEHACHAPI MOUNTAIN RANGE. FLIGHTAWARE TRACK SHOWED THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT AIRSPEED GO FROM 180 KTS TO UNDER 50 KTS, AND A STEEP DROP IN ALTITUDE. SUSPECTED AIRCRAFT STALLED/SPINNED INTO MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. ADS-B TRACKING CEASED AT 1627 PDT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.