# NTSB LAX92LA365: Christen Industries Eagle II, N24CE, Point Reyes Stn, CA, February 23, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 23, 1992, 15:45 local (23:45 UTC)
- Place: Point Reyes Stn, CA
- Coordinates: 37.699718, -122.079368 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6997&lon=-122.0794&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 24, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27745
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX92LA365
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27745/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX92LA365

## Probable cause

IMPROPER PREFLIGHT PLANNING BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND BY EXCEEDING THE AIRPLANE'S MAXIMUM ACROBATIC GROSS WEIGHT AND EXCEEDING THE AFT AEROBATIC CENTER OF GRAVITY LIMIT. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S DECISION TO PERFORM ACROBATIC MANEUVERS WHICH RESULTED IN A INADVERTENT STALL FROM WHICH RECOVERY WAS NOT POSSIBLE.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - preflight planning/preparation - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - aerobatics - performed, pilot in command
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - remedial action - not possible, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

A CHRISTEN EAGLE II LOST CONTROL DURING ACROBATIC MANEUVERS, COLLIDED WITH COASTAL WATERS AND WAS NEVER RECOVERED. THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED IN A STEEP CLIMB, DID A WING OVER, AND THEN ENTERED A SPIN.  AFTER 4 TO 5 ROTATIONS IN THE SPIN THE AIRPLANE STARTED TO PULL OUT.  THE AIRPLANE WAS THEN OBSERVED ROTATING AS IF IN A SPIN AND SIMULTANEOUSLY FLIPPING NOSE OVER UNTIL ITS TAIL STRUCK THE WATER.  THE PILOT'S TOTAL DOCUMENTED AERONAUTICAL EXPERIENCE IN THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE MAKE AND MODEL WAS 14 FLIGHT HOURS.  INVESTIGATORS DETERMINED THAT THE AIRPLANE'S WEIGHT EXCEEDED THE MAXIMUM NORMAL AND AEROBATIC ALLOWABLE GROSS WEIGHT.  THE CENTER OF GRAVITY (CG) EXCEEDED THE AFT LIMIT OF THE AIRPLANE'S AEROBATIC ALLOWABLE CG.  THE AIRPLANE FLIGHT MANUAL PUBLISHES A WARNING WHICH STATES IN PART; 'PILOTS MUST TAKE WEIGHT AND BALANCE RESPONSIBILITIES SERIOUSLY. ALL AIRCRAFT MUST BE LOADED SO THAT THE AIRCRAFT CG WILL REMAIN WITHIN SAFE LIMITS AT ALL TIMES.  ALL SPIN RECOVERY PROCEDURES DEPEND ON HAVING THE CG REMAIN WITHIN DESIGN LIMITS.'

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N24CE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N24CE-2013-06-04), registration cancelled 2013-06-04, S/N WRIGHT-0001 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Christen Industries EAGLE II
- Registry model: [Wright Jack B CHRISTEN EAGLE II](https://openairdocs.org/model/wright-jack-b-christen-eagle-ii) (registry code 05658BB) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: WRIGHT-0001
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1D 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: Unknown
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Raouls, Bernard H.
- Registered owner: Raouls, Bernard H.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, April 2, 1991
- Departed: STS, SONOMA, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 437 total, 14 in this make and model, 275 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 320° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: STS, 37 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 19920223038589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920223038589A), Feb 23, 1992: Amtral EAGLE2, Point Reyes Stn, CA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Entered spin after wingover. Recovered but entered flat spin until water impact. Over gross weight and aft of c.g.

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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