# NTSB LAX01LA041: Experimental Glasair 1RG, N41AL, Temecula, CA, November 15, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 15, 2000, 10:50 local (18:50 UTC) - Place: Temecula, CA - Coordinates: 33.525001, -117.083335 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5250&lon=-117.0833&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal - Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, Textron Lycoming - NTSB case key (mKey): 50635 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX01LA041 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50635/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA041 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain an adequate terrain clearance altitude while performing aerobatic maneuvers, which resulted in the in-flight collision with terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - aerobatics - performed, pilot in command - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly ## Analysis The amateur-built, experimental single engine airplane collided with terrain while performing what a witness described as a series of aerobatic maneuvers. The witness described the airplane as pulling up, rolling, and then diving until out of sight This same maneuver was performed several times. At the bottom of each dive he heard the engine accelerate and the airplane would begin another climb. During the final maneuver, he did not hear the engine accelerate nor did he see the airplane climb again following the descent. A post-accident examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of preimpact anomalies to the airframe or engine. The pilot logbooks and airplane builder and maintenance records were not recovered. The private pilot accumulated approximately 288 total flight hours, of which an unknown amount were accumulated in the accident airplane. It is uncertain whether the pilot obtained any aerobatic flight training. ## Factual narrative On November 15, 2000, at 1050 Pacific standard time, an amateur-built, experimental Glasair 1RG single engine airplane, N41AL, collided with terrain while maneuvering near Temecula, California. The airplane was destroyed, and both the private pilot and pilot-rated passenger received fatal injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by the owner/pilot as a personal flight under 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The flight had originated from Chino, California, approximately 0930. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan had been filed. A witness near the scene of the accident reported to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector that the airplane was performing what appeared to him to be a series of aerobatic maneuvers. He described the airplane as pulling up, rolling, and then diving until out of sight. At the bottom of each dive he heard the engine accelerate and the airplane would begin another climb. During the final maneuver, he did not hear the engine accelerate nor did he see the airplane climb again following the descent. Photographs taken at the accident site indicated that the composite airplane was destroyed by fire damage. The wreckage came to rest approximately 15 feet from the base of a utility wire pole, and was scattered along the side of a county road. The berm of the road displayed a 6-inch-deep impact mark with sections of the engine cowling lying adjacent to the impact mark, and a leading edge wing strip emanating from the impact mark. The engine was found approximately 10 feet from the impact mark and down a 5-foot hill, which ran along the roadside. The propeller was separated from the engine's propeller flange and was removed from the wreckage by the pilot's family prior to the FAA inspector's on-scene arrival. The wreckage was transported to a salvage facility and examined by the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge, an FAA inspector, and an engine manufacturer's representative. Flight control continuity could not be established due to the extent of fire and impact damage. The cockpit instruments were destroyed and were unreadable. The engine's data plate was not located; however, it was determined to be a Textron Lycoming IO-320 series engine. The engine remained attached to the engine mounts and sustained severe impact damage to the left side (encompassing the No. 2 and No. 4 cylinders). The bottom spark plugs, and induction and exhaust pipes were separated from their respective cylinders and the No. 2 and No. 4 cylinder heads were displaced. The rear-mounted accessories were displaced from their respective mounting pads and sustained fire damage. None of the accessories were testable due to the extent of their damage. Visual examination of the components revealed no evidence of premishap catastrophic mechanical malfunction. Only limited manual rotation of the crankshaft was possible due to the extent of the damage. Mechanical continuity of the engine was established from the crankshaft to accessory case and to the cylinder/piston components. The cylinders were examined via the use of a lighted bore scope. The combustion chambers were undamaged and displayed no evidence of foreign object ingestion. The fuel flow divider remained secured to the top of the engine with the respective fuel injector lines secure. The flow divider was disassembled and fuel was observed inside, and the diaphragm was intact. The injector nozzles were secure to their cylinders and when they were removed, no obstructions were noted. The propeller was subsequently examined at the pilot's daughter's home. The propeller spinner was crushed aft around the propeller cylinder. The two blades were in place and intact. Both blades displayed chordwise scoring and scrapes on both sides of the blades. The one blade was bent aft approximately 40 degrees near the root and was twisted toward low pitch. The other blade was also bent aft to a lesser extent and was also twisted toward a low pitch. The airplane's building and maintenance records were not recovered during the investigation. The pilot's family searched for the records to no avail, and they are presumed to have been in the airplane at the time of the accident. According to FAA records, the airplane was issued an experimental airworthiness certificate on August 25, 1999. The total time on the airplane and engine are unknown. The pilot held a private pilot certificate with an airplane single engine land rating. He was issued a third-class medical certificate on December 16, 1998, with a limitation to wear corrective lenses. According to the last medical certificate application, the pilot reported having accumulated a total of 201 hours of flight time. The pilot's logbook was not recovered during the investigation, and it is unknown how many hours were accumulated in the accident airplane. It could not be determined whether the pilot had obtained aerobatic flight training. An autopsy on the pilot was conducted at the Riverside County Coroner's Office. According to the autopsy report, the pilot died as a result of multiple traumatic injury. Toxicological tests performed by the coroner's office were negative for alcohol and all screened drug substances. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N41AL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N41AL-2001-06-18), registration cancelled 2001-06-18, S/N 704 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Experimental Glasair 1RG (GLASAIR 1R) - Registry model: [Larson Alan H GLASAIR 1RG](https://openairdocs.org/model/larson-alan-h-glasair-1rg) (registry code 05606YW) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 704 - Engines: Lycoming IO-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Alan Harold Larson - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: CNO, Chino, CA - Destination: Temecula, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 288 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: RAL, 30 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20001115041689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20001115041689A), Nov 15, 2000: Amtr GLASAIR1RG, Temecula, CA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. (-23) Aircraft departed chino, CA airport at approximately 1000 hours on 11/15/00. During acrobatic maneuvers aircraft struck side of road (highway 79) in an… 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.