# NTSB LAX81FVG42: G.B.Assoc GB-1, N4260N, Pope Valley, CA, June 14, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: June 14, 1981
- Place: Pope Valley, CA · POPE VALLEY, CA
- Location: 38.6152° N, 122.4278° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Pope Valley, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6152&lon=-122.4278&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 21, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 125488
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX81FVG42
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81FVG42

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1178  81/6/14    POPE VALLEY,CA      G.B.ASSOC GB-1      CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 28, 770
        TIME - 0812                    N4260N              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 23 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - POPE VALLEY
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          POPE VALLEY,CA              LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: LOW PASS
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXCEEDED DESIGNED STRESS LIMITS OF AIRCRAFT
        FACTOR(S)
           AIRFRAME - FLIGHT CONTROL SURFACES: AILERON SURFACES,ATTACHMENTS
           AIRFRAME - WINGS: SPARS
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      65
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
           45                                                       15
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- FLT OF 3,HI-SPEED FLY-BY.ACFT DISINTEGRATED DRG TURN,SPEED ESTIMATED OVER VNE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N4260N (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: G.B.ASSOC GB-1
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Pope Valley

## 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 19810614032309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810614032309A), Jun 14, 1981: Amtrgb GB1AMTR, Pope Valley, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Wing came off and airplane disintegrated during low, high-speed pass over runway. Gusty winds. Pilot exceeded vne.

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.

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