- Date
- June 29, 2017, 17:37 local (Jun 30, 2017, 00:37 UTC)
- Place
- Tehachapi, CA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N385MUUrbanczyk Miroslaw Radio Flyer
- Defining event
- Initial climb: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 22, 2017
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20170629008749A
- Case key
- 95464
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The noncertificated pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from residential buildings and trees in gusting wind conditions.
Findings · 4
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
According to a local news report, after the accident, the noncertificated pilot stated, "The wind got the better of me and the near-death experience is pretty interesting." He further stated, "I tried to level out before the crash into the house and aimed for the tree. I thought we were dead and I pulled the yoke as far as I could to get the elevation leveled out, which saved our life. I hit the tree with the wing and we spun and landed." Subsequently, the airplane came to rest in the residential neighborhood. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. After multiple requests, the noncertificated pilot failed to submit the National Transportation Safety Board Form 6120.1 Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report. The automated weather observation system at the accident airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 320° at 17 knots, gusting to 25 knots. The pilot departed on runway 29.
Factual narrative
According to a local news report, after the accident the non-certificated pilot stated, "The wind got the better of me and the near death experience is pretty interesting." He further stated, "I tried to level out before the crash into the house and aimed for the tree. I thought we were dead and I pulled the yoke as far as I could to get the elevation leveled out, which saved our life. I hit the tree with the wing and we spun and landed." Subsequently, the airplane came to rest in the residential neighborhood. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. After multiple requests, the non-certificated pilot failed to submit the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Form 6120.1 Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report, as required. The automated weather observation system on the accident site airport reported, about the time of the accident, the wind from 320° at 17 knots, gusting to 25 knots. The pilot departed on runway 29.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N385MU
- Reported as
- Urbanczyk Miroslaw Radio Flyer (NO SERIES)
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 01
- Built
- 2009
- Engine
- reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed
- TSP · Tehachapi, CA
- Destination
- TSP · Tehachapi, CA
- Flight plan
- Unknown
- Airport
- TSP · Tehachapi Muni, runway 29, 4,040 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Unknown
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 34
- Injuries
- None
- Medical
- Unknown
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 320° at 17 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility
- 9 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.04 inHg
- Observed at
- KTSP
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 23, 2017, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 581 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.