# NTSB LAX86LA122: Henley Aerodrome Fokker DR1, N50CH, Santa Ynez, CA, February 21, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 21, 1986, 13:50 local (21:50 UTC)
- Place: Santa Ynez, CA
- Coordinates: 34.640293, -120.020141 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6403&lon=-120.0201&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: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25077
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX86LA122
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25077/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX86LA122

## 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
  - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - uncontrolled, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - descent - uncontrolled, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

A HOMEBUILT AERODROME FOKKER DR1 CRASHED AFTER TAKEOFF. THE ACFT HAD BEEN IN STORAGE FOR OVER 5 YRS AND HAD JUST COMPLETED AN ANNUAL INSPECTION.THE FLT WAS A POST ANNUAL INSPECTION TEST FLT.THE PLT HAD EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE MAINTAINING AND FLYING HOMEBUILT ACFT AND BIPLANES, BUT HE HAD NEVER FLOWN A TRI-WING ACFT BEFORE. THE ACFT CLIMBED TO APPROXIMATELY 50 FT AFTER TAKEOFF AND MAINTAINED THAT ALT DOWN THE LENGTH OF THE RWY. AT THE END OF THE RWY THE ACFT BEGAN A SKIDDING LEFT TURN AND A CLIMB. WHILE IN THE TURN THE ACFT NOSE PITCHED DOWN AND THE ACFT DOVE INTO THE GROUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N50CH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N50CH-1991-08-09), registration cancelled 1991-08-09, S/N 7 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HENLEY AERODROME FOKKER DR1 (AERODROME)
- Registry model: [Henley AERODROME FOKKER DRI](https://openairdocs.org/model/henley-aerodrome-fokker-dri) (registry code 05631FE) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 7
- Airframe hours: 7
- Engines: WARNER SUPERSCARAB14 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Operator: Dan Mattice
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, February 12, 1986
- Departed: IZA, SANTA YNEZ, CA
- Airport: IZA, Santa Ynez, runway 26, 2,800 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 5,245 total, 1 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 19860221004759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860221004759A), Feb 21, 1986: Amtrrf FOKKERDR1, Santa Ynez, CA, Destroyed. Impacted the ground during a skidding left turn on climbout. This was pilots first flight in this type aircraft.

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.