- Date
- June 7, 1994, 14:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place
- Blythe, CA
- Injuries
- 2 serious
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N76TCHayes/Pietenpol AIR Camper
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 14, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940607014399A
- Case key
- 28763
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's unexpected encounter with a downdraft while flying at an improper altitude in mountainous terrain.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot was assisting in a search for a missing person while flying in mountainous terrain. He was flying at a low altitude when he encountered a downdraft and collided with the terrain. He reported no mechanical problems with the aircraft.
Factual narrative
On June 7, 1994, about 1400 hours Pacific daylight time, a Hayes/Pietenpol Air Camper homebuilt aircraft, N76TC, crashed while maneuvering near Blythe, California. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local personal flight when the accident occurred. The airplane, registered to and operated by the pilot, was destroyed. The certificated private pilot and passenger received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated from Blythe.
According to the pilot, he was assisting in a search for a missing person. The pilot indicated that while maneuvering over the desert he encountered a downdraft and collided with the terrain. He did not indicate any mechanical malfunction.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N76TC
- Reported as
- Hayes/Pietenpol AIR Camper
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 01
- Airframe hours
- 136
- Engine
- Continental A-75-8F, 75 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Henry C. Hayes
- Registered owner
- Henry C. Hayes
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Continuous airworthiness · May 10, 1994 · 18 hours before
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 66
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 1,325 total · 136 in this make and model · 1,300 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 225° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 35 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 106 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.