# NTSB LAX02LA109: Trenti RV-4, N491T, Jacumba, CA, March 15, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 15, 2002, 13:40 local (21:40 UTC) - Place: Jacumba, CA - Coordinates: 32.615833, -116.164718 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.6158&lon=-116.1647&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report September 29, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 54360 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX02LA109 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54360/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54360 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA109 ## Probable cause in-flight loss of control for undetermined reasons. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, landing - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The experimental airplane collided with terrain during an attempted landing. Witnesses reported seeing the airplane at a low altitude, flying slowly toward the airport. The airplane made a sharp right turn, and, about 20 feet above ground level, the right wing dropped. The airplane continued in the turn until the right wing contacted ground. The airplane cartwheeled along the terrain, and became engulfed in flames shortly after coming to rest. Examination of the wreckage by an FAA inspector revealed no apparent mechanical anomalies. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On March 15, 2002, about 1340 Pacific standard time, an amateur-built experimental Trenti RV-4, N491T, collided with terrain during an attempted landing at the Jacumba Airport, Jacumba, California. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot, the sole occupant, sustained fatal injuries; the airplane was destroyed. The local personal flight departed Gillespie Field Airport, El Cajon, California, at 1323, with a planned destination of Jacumba. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan had not been filed. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector interviewed two witnesses to the accident. One witness reported seeing the airplane at a low altitude, flying just above the surrounding utility poles. She noted that the engine sounded different, not what she was accustomed to hearing an airplane engine sounding like. The other witness saw the airplane flying toward the airport in a southeast direction. He observed the airplane moving slowly, at a low altitude, and began a sharp right turn. About 20 feet above ground level, the right wing dropped and the airplane continued in the right turn until the right wing contacted the ground. The airplane cartwheeled along the terrain, and shortly after coming to rest, became engulfed in flames. He noted that he did not hear any abnormal engine sounds. The FAA inspector also interviewed a deputy sheriff, who had seen the pilot landing the experimental airplane several times at Jacumba. He stated that the pilot normally made a high approach heading in an easterly direction, where he flies over his house and uses it as a landmark. The house is located northeast of the airport, about 1/4 to 1/3 mile from the runway. PERSONNEL INFORMATION A review of FAA airman records revealed that the pilot held a private pilot certificate with an airplane single engine land rating. He was issued a third-class medical certificate on May 08, 2001, with a limitation to wear corrective lenses for near and distant vision. According to the last medical certificate application, the pilot reported having accumulated a total of 1,690 hours of flight time. The FAA inspector reported that the pilot had accumulated 790 hours in the make and model. The pilot's logbook was not recovered during the investigation METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION An aviation routine weather report (METAR) generated by an Automated Surface Observation System (ASOS) in Campo, California (located 15 nautical miles west from the accident site), indicated that about the time of the accident winds were 220 degrees at 13 knots gusting to 18 knots. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION The FAA inspector reported that the wreckage was about 150 feet north of runway 25. He noted that the right wing tank burned, but the left wing tank remained intact. TESTS AND RESEARCH The FAA inspector examined the wreckage at the accident site. He reported that the airplane had a Textron Lycoming O-320-E2A engine, serial number L-16988-27A, installed. Manual rotation of the crankshaft produced thumb compression of the cylinders, as well as valve train and accessory gear continuity of the engine. The spark plug electrodes and ignition leads were in good condition. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N491T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N491T-2002-08-28), registration cancelled 2002-08-28, S/N 891, built 1991 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Trenti RV-4 - Registry model: [Trenti Mario Frank RV-4](https://openairdocs.org/model/trenti-mario-frank-rv-4) (registry code 05608KW) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 891 - Airframe hours: 791 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Mario F. Trenti - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: SEE, El Cajon, CA - Destination: L78, Jacumba, CA - Airport: L78, Jacumba Airport, runway 25, 2,508 × 100 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 75; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,690 total, 790 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 18 knots, gusting 22 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: CZZ, 26 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 20020315003499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020315003499A), Mar 15, 2002: Amtr RV4, Jacumba, CA, No damage, 1 fatal. (.19) On March 15, 2002, about 1340 hours pacific standard time, a trenti RV-4, N491T, was destroyed during landing at Jacumba airport, Jacumba, California.… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 16, 2004, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54360. 121 KB in all. - Toxicological Report (item 1, .PDF, 35 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40356412&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Toxicological%20Report-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Statements (item 2, .PDF, 86 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40213737&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statements-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.