# NTSB LAX93LA131: Schicora Osprey 2, N186S, Joshua Tree, CA, February 22, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 22, 1993, 11:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: Joshua Tree, CA
- Coordinates: 34.150035, -116.269866 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1500&lon=-116.2699&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report November 15, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27932
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX93LA131
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27932/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX93LA131

## Probable cause

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT FLYING TO ATTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED FOR LIFT OFF AND THE RESULTING INADVERTENT STALL MUSH CONDITION DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb
  - terrain condition - high vegetation
  - lift-off - premature, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE AIRCRAFT BUILDER WAS FLYING THE AIRCRAFT FROM THE RIGHT SEAT AND PROVIDING FAMILIARIZATION TRAINING TO A FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR WHO WAS TO TEACH THE NEW AIRCRAFT OWNER HOW TO FLY THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOTS SAID THAT THE GROUND ROLL AND ROTATION WERE NORMAL AND THE AIRCRAFT LIFTED OFF THE RUNWAY AT ABOUT 60 KNOTS. BOTH PILOTS STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WOULD NOT CLIMB ABOVE 10 FEET AGL AND IT SETTLED BACK TO THE GROUND OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH SOME BRUSH AND THE TERRAIN. BOTH PILOTS STATED THAT THE WINDS WERE CALM AT THE TIME OF THE ATTEMPTED TAKEOFF AND THERE WAS NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OF EITHER THE AIRCRAFT OR ENGINE. THE AIRCRAFT BUILDER STATED THAT AT THE GROSS WEIGHT AND OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS EXISTING AT THE TIME THE AIRCRAFT SHOULD HAVE HAD A RATE OF CLIMB OF ABOUT 800 FEET PER MINUTE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N186S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N186S-1996-06-10), registration cancelled 1996-06-10, S/N 831 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCHICORA OSPREY 2
- Registry model: [Schicora William R OSPREY 2](https://openairdocs.org/model/schicora-william-r-osprey-2) (registry code 957053A) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 831
- Airframe hours: 220
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A3B 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: William R. Schicora
- Registered owner: Chris & Wanda Voightlander
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, January 30, 1993, 3 hours before
- Departed: L80
- Destination: L80
- Airport: L80, Hi-Desert, runway 24, 2,650 × 50 ft, macadam

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 3,350 total, 2 in this make and model, 3,190 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F

## 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 19930222003089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930222003089A), Feb 22, 1993: Amtros OSPREY2, Joshua Tree, CA, Substantial damage. CFI being checked out in aircraft by builder. Failed to climb out of ground effect. Settled into Desert terrain.

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.