# NTSB LAX04LA320: Hebb Avid Magnum, N970JH, Bridgeport, CA, September 17, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 17, 2004, 13:41 local (20:41 UTC) - Place: Bridgeport, CA - Coordinates: 38.262779, -119.227775 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2628&lon=-119.2278&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 60201 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX04LA320 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60201/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04LA320 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to adequately compensate for the crosswind condition and his failure to maintain an adequate airspeed while using crossed controls, which led to a stall. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - weather condition - crosswind - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - encountered, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis Shortly after takeoff in a 90-degree, 10-knot crosswind the pilot lost control of the airplane and it impacted terrain. The pilot said that during preflight preparations for the accident flight, he noted a crosswind from the left that he estimated to be greater than 10 nautical miles per hour, and at 90 degrees to the departure runway 34. Concerned about the crosswind, the pilot decided not to take passengers on the flight, as he had previously planned. The pilot stated that he was familiar with operating the airplane in similar crosswind conditions, and did not encounter difficulty taxing the airplane to the departure runway. After beginning the takeoff roll and becoming airborne, the airplane was upset and the pilot experienced a loss of control. A witness reported that the airplane took off with an estimated 90-degree crosswind to the runway. The windsock was about 90 percent full. During takeoff, the airplane drifted to the left, and climbed to about 100 feet. The airplane then rolled to the right and impacted terrain nose down, 30 to 40 feet east of the runway. The witness said the rudder was deflected fully to the right, and the right aileron was fully deflected down just before the airplane rolled off to the right and hit the ground. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. ## Factual narrative On September 17, 2004, about 1341 Pacific daylight time, a Hebb Avid Magnum, N970JH, collided with the ground 15 seconds after takeoff at Bryant Field, Bridgeport, California. The owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot was seriously injured and the airplane was destroyed. The personal cross-country flight departed Bryant Field with the intended destination of Nevada County Air Park, Grass Valley, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan had not been filed. In a telephone interview with a National Transportation Safety Board investigator, the pilot reported that he arrived at the Bridgeport airport around 1200. He experienced light turbulence crossing the surrounding mountains, but classified the arrival to Bryant Field as smooth. During preflight preparations for the accident flight, the pilot noted a crosswind from the left that he estimated to be greater than 10 nautical miles per hour, and at 90 degrees to the departure runway 34. Concerned about the crosswind, the pilot decided not to take passengers on the flight, as he had previously planned. The pilot stated that he was familiar with operating the airplane in similar crosswind conditions, and did not encounter difficulty taxing the airplane to the departure runway. After beginning the takeoff roll and becoming airborne, the airplane was upset and the pilot experienced a loss of control. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfuncitions or failures with the airplane. In a telephone interview with a Safety Board Investigator, a witness reported that the airplane took off toward the east, with an estimated 90-degree crosswind to the runway. The windsock was about 90 percent full. During takeoff, the airplane drifted to the left, and climbed to about 100 feet. The airplane then rolled to the right and impacted terrain nose down, 30 to 40 feet east of the runway. The witness stated that the rudder was deflected fully to the right, and the right aileron was fully deflected down just before the airplane rolled off to the right and hit the ground. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N970JH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N970JH-2006-06-29), registration cancelled 2006-06-29, S/N 001, built 1997 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Hebb Avid Magnum - Registry model: [Hebb James W AVID MAGNUM](https://openairdocs.org/model/hebb-james-w-avid-magnum) (registry code 05604TV) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 77M - Airframe hours: 420.6 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2004, 28.6 hours before - Departed: KO57, Bridgeport, CA - Destination: O17, Grass Valley, CA - Airport: O57, Bryant Field Airport, runway 34, 4,329 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review May 1, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 2,123 total, 400 in this make and model, 2,123 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.75 inHg - Observed at: KMOD, 70 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 20040917024339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040917024339A), Sep 17, 2004: Amtr AVIDMAGNUM, Bridgeport, CA, Destroyed. (-23) The flight originated at Bryant field, Bridgeport, California in VMC conditions. No flight plan was filed. The airplane took off normally, then rolled to… 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.