# NTSB GAA16CA003: Bushmaster Super Bushmaster, Marble Canyon, AZ, October 4, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 4, 2015, 15:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Marble Canyon, AZ - Coordinates: 36.734443, -111.752777 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.7344&lon=-111.7528&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 15, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 92123 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA003 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92123/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92123 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA003 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain descent rate durring the landing resulting in collision with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: descent rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md) - [Turbulence: terrain induced turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032010): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [All aircraft, 70 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360); cases with it: [All aircraft, 423 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md) - [Approach: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the visiting foreign pilot's written statement, while on approach to land at a desert airport, he encountered severe turbulence, was unable to maintain altitude, and the airplane impacted the ground 50 feet short of the runway. The nearest weather reporting station was 12 NM to the north-east, and reported that the wind was 150 degrees true at 13 knots, with gusts to 19. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies prior to or during the flight that would have prevented normal flight operation. ## Factual narrative According to the visiting foreign pilot's written statement, while on approach to land at a desert airport, he encountered severe turbulence, was unable to maintain altitude, and the airplane impacted the ground 50 feet short of the runway. The nearest weather reporting station was 12 NM to the north-east, and reported that the wind was 150 degrees true at 13 knots, with gusts to 19. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies prior to or during the flight that would have prevented normal flight operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: C-FIIB (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: BUSHMASTER Super Bushmaster (LS180S) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: BC 001 - Year built: 2011 - Airframe hours: 290 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Non-U.S., non-commercial - Operator: Cameron Bruce Fraser - Registered owner: Cameron Bruce Fraser - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 11, 2015 - Departed: HND, LAS VEGAS, NV - Destination: AZ03, Marble Canyon, AZ - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: AZ03, Cliff Dwellers, runway 22, 3,820 × 40 ft, dirt - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; private, commercial, foreign; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: unknown, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 7, 2014; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,400 total, 290 in this make and model, 1,286 as pilot in command, 37 in the last 90 days, 0.1 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 11 knots, gusting 22 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.84 inHg - Observed at: PGA, 12 nm away ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 24, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92123. 2.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40435201&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 155 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40435202&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Master.PDF - Photos (Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 2 photos, 681 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40435203&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF 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. --- 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.