# NTSB LAX01LA141: Motley Vans RV-6A, N51DA, Baker, CA, April 28, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 28, 2001, 14:05 local (21:05 UTC) - Place: Baker, CA - Coordinates: 35.197223, -116.078056 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1972&lon=-116.0781&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 52034 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX01LA141 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52034/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=52034 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA141 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed while maneuvering at low altitude, which led to an inadvertent stall/spin. The wind gusts were a factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - low altitude flight/maneuver - intentional, pilot in command - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The pilot lost control of the airplane while maneuvering at low altitude and the airplane descended to ground impact. The pilot was to overfly his son, who was at a remote ranch retreat, so that the son would know to pick him up at the local airport. The airplane flew over the retreat one time and the pilot made radio contact with his son. The pilot was attempting a second pass and he told his son that he could not fly close to the mountains due to the high winds. The pilot did not report any difficulties or performance abnormalities to the son. The son said that as the airplane passed over, it rolled to the left, and then sharply to the right before descending to the ground. Winds at the time of the accident were gusting up to 24 knots at Barstow, California, located approximately 50 miles away. ## Factual narrative On April 28, 2001, about 1405 Pacific daylight time, a Motley Vans RV-6A, N51DA, was destroyed when it collided with terrain about 14 miles west of Baker, California. The private pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot sustained fatal injuries. The personal cross-country flight departed Chino, California, at an unknown time. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The primary wreckage was at 35 degrees 11.84 minutes north latitude and 116 degrees 04.68 minutes west longitude. A sheriff's deputy interviewed the pilot's son. The pilot delayed his departure from Chino due to weather. He was to overfly the son at a ranch retreat so the son would know to pick him up at Baker. The pilot flew over the ranch one time and made radio contact with his son. The pilot was attempting a second pass and he told his son that he could not fly close to the mountains due to the high winds. The son said that as the airplane passed over, it rolled to the left, and then sharply to the right before descending to the ground. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) accident coordinator inspected the wreckage at the accident scene. He observed a ground scar that was about 2-feet long. The wreckage covered an area about 50 yards in diameter. The wreckage site contained all of the control surfaces and flight control continuity could not be determined due to impact damage. The leading edges of both wings were crushed aft, and both of the propeller blades exhibited S-bends. A toxicology exam was completed at the FAA Civil Aeromedical Institute (CAMI), Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The results were positive for Ethanol, Acetaldehyde and N-Propanol, which were detected in kidney tissue samples. No Ethanol was detected in the muscle tissue submitted. The toxicology report notes that the ethanol found may potentially be from postmortem ethanol formation and not from the ingestion of ethanol. The unedited surface weather observation (METAR) for Daggett Field (DAG), Barstow, California reported gusty wind conditions up to 24 knots at the time of the accident. Barstow was located approximately 50 miles from the accident site. A review of maintenance records for the airplane revealed that an inspection was completed in accordance with 14 CFR Part 43, Appendix D, on December 18, 2000. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N51DA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N51DA-2002-01-08), registration cancelled 2002-01-08, S/N 24195, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MOTLEY VANS RV-6A - Registry model: [Motley David M RV6A](https://openairdocs.org/model/motley-david-m-rv6a) (registry code 056032K) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-360-A1D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-360-a1d) (registry code 41504, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 24195 - Airframe hours: 307 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1A 180 hp reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: David M. Motley - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, December 18, 2000 - Departed: CNO, CHINO, CA - Destination: 0O2, BAKER, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 950 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 18 knots, gusting 24 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 29.80 inHg - Observed at: DAG, 50 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 20010428007909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010428007909A), Apr 28, 2001: Amtr RV6A, Baker, CA, No damage. (.19)On April 28, 2001, about 1405 hours pacific daylight time, a motley vans RV-6A, N51DA, was destroyed when it collided with terrain about 14 miles west of… ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 26, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=52034. 1.4 MB in all. - Airplane Logbook Excerpts (item 1, .PDF, 349 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40180414&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airplane%20Logbook%20Excerpts-Redacted.PDF - Airworthiness and Registration (item 2, .PDF, 40 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40180415&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airworthiness%20and%20Registration-Master.PDF - FAA Statement (item 3, .PDF, 25 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40180418&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Statement-Master.PDF - Lycoming Report (item 4, .PDF, 163 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40180420&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Lycoming%20Report-Master.PDF - Pilot Logbook Excerpts (item 5, .PDF, 618 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40180421&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Logbook%20Excerpts-Master.PDF - Toxicological Report (item 6, .PDF, 47 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40180423&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Toxicological%20Report-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 7, .PDF, 47 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40180424&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Weight and Balance (item 8, .PDF, 119 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40180425&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weight%20and%20Balance-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.