# NTSB LAX02LA273: Petrik Questair Venture, N6UN, Crescent City, CA, September 4, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 4, 2002, 13:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Crescent City, CA - Coordinates: 41.779998, -124.236389 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7800&lon=-124.2364&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report October 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 55627 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX02LA273 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55627/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA273 ## Probable cause The pilot's loss of control for undetermined reasons. A contributing factor was low ceiling. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor) - In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - object - tree(s) ## Analysis A flight instructor and student pilot, who were flying in another airplane, reported that the accident airplane rolled to the left and then descended straight down into the trees. The flight instructor reported hearing the pilot of the accident airplane report that he was on final approach for runway 17. The airplane impacted trees and the ground in a remote area about one mile short of the approach end of runway 17. The airplane was found inverted, wedged between trees. At 1256 PDT, the Crescent City automated weather observing station (AWOS) reported the wind 160 degrees at 8 knots, a broken ceiling at 600 feet AGL, 10 miles visibility, temperature 55 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 50 degrees Fahrenheit and altimeter 30.06 inches of Mercury. The aircraft impacted trees about 25 feet above the ground and continued forward for about 30 feet before coming to rest inverted. The left wing was separated from the aircraft and was found in a tree about 20 feet above the main wreckage with the left aileron on the ground below the wing. The right wing was still attached to the fuselage with the aileron separated and lying below the wing. Both wings exhibited evidence of a long time fuel leak. It was not determined if there was fuel in the engine fuel lines due to the lines being broken at all major attachment points. Likewise, it was not determined if there was fuel in the wing tanks. The last recorded fuel purchase was made on July 9, 2002 for 26.83 gallons of 100LL fuel. One of the propeller blades had very little damage, while the other blade exhibited a slight aft bend. ## Factual narrative On September 4, 2002, at 1300 pacific daylight time, a Petrik Questair Venture experimental homebuilt airplane, N6UN, was substantially damaged when it impacted trees while on final approach to the Jack McNamara Field Airport near Crescent City, California. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. The private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight originated from Crescent City at an unknown time. A flight instructor and student pilot, who were flying in another airplane, reported that the accident airplane rolled to the left and then descended straight down into the trees. The flight instructor reported hearing the pilot of the accident airplane report that he was on final approach for runway 17. According to the FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, the airplane impacted trees and the ground in a remote area about one mile short of the approach end of runway 17. The airplane was found inverted, wedged between trees. The pilot held a private pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine land rating. The pilot's third-class medical certificate, issued on May 2, 2001, listed the restriction that he must wear corrective lenses and must possess glasses for near and intermediate vision. The Questair Venture is a two-place aluminum kit airplane powered by a Continental IO-550-G1B engine rated at 280 horsepower. The aircraft will hold 55 gallons of fuel and burns about 12 gallons per hour at a cruise speed of 230 knots. At 1256 PDT, the Crescent City automated weather observing station (AWOS) reported the wind 160 degrees at 8 knots, a broken ceiling at 600 feet AGL, 10 miles visibility, temperature 55 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 50 degrees Fahrenheit and altimeter 30.06 inches of Mercury. The aircraft was examined on scene by the FAA inspector, The aircraft impacted trees about 25 feet above the ground and continued forward for about 30 feet before coming to rest inverted. The left wing was separated from the aircraft and was found in a tree about 20 feet above the main wreckage with the left aileron on the ground below the wing. The right wing was still attached to the fuselage with the aileron separated and lying below the wing. Both wings exhibited evidence of a long time fuel leak. The inspector was not able to determine if there was fuel in the engine fuel lines due to the lines being broken at all major attachment points. Likewise, the inspector was not able to determine if there was fuel in the wing tanks. The last recorded fuel purchase was made on July 9, 2002 for 26.83 gallons of 100LL fuel. One of the propeller blades had very little damage, while the other blade exhibited a slight aft bend. The FAA performed a forensic toxicology report with no detected levels of carbon monoxide, cyanide, ethanol, or listed drugs. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6UN](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6UN-2003-03-12), registration cancelled 2003-03-12, S/N 40 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Petrik Questair Venture - Registry model: [Petrik Gene J QUESTAIR VENTURE](https://openairdocs.org/model/petrik-gene-j-questair-venture) (registry code 05618FD) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 40 - Engines: Continental IO-550 G1B reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Gene J. Petrik - Departed: CEC, Crescent City, CA - Airport: CEC, Jack McNamara Field Airport, runway 17, 5,002 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 72; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 600 ft broken - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg ## 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 20020904023329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020904023329A), Sep 4, 2002: Amtr QUESTAIRVENT, Crescentcity, CA, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. (-23) On September 4, 2002 at approximately 1300 hours local Mr. Gene petrik was approaching runway 17 located at crescent city airport. Mr. Steven clary who… ## Other investigations on N6UN (1) 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. - [NTSB LAX96LA015](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96LA015), Oct 19, 1995: Petrik Questair Venture (N6UN), Crescent City, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to maintain directional control. 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.