# NTSB LAX94LA262: Payne Foster Glasair, N250CH, Hesperia, CA, June 19, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 19, 1994, 11:45 local (18:45 UTC) - Place: Hesperia, CA - Coordinates: 34.359653, -117.319152 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.3597&lon=-117.3192&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report April 5, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28780 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX94LA262 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28780/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA262 ## Probable cause the pilot's loss of directional control during an attempted landing and subsequent go-around. Factors were the high-density altitude, inappropriate fuel leaning procedures, and the gust of wind. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, landing - aborted - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor) - directional control - not obtained/maintained, pilot in command (cause) - mixture - inattentive, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with object, go-around (vfr) - object - aircraft parked/standing ## Analysis THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND AND A PARKED AIRCRAFT OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF RUNWAY 21 AFTER THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A GUST OF WIND DURING THE APPROACH. DURING THE ATTEMPTED GO-AROUND, THE AIRCRAFT VEERED ACROSS THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER PARKED AIRCRAFT THAT WAS BEING REFUELED. IN ADDITION TO THE GUST OF WIND, THE PILOT STATED TO AN FAA WITNESS THAT HE FORGOT ABOUT THE DENSITY ALTITUDE AND LEANING THE FUEL MIXTURE. ## Factual narrative On June 19, 1994, about 1145 hours Pacific daylight time, a Payne Foster Glasair, N250CH, collided with two parked aircraft after a bounced landing on the right shoulder of runway 21 at the Hesperia Airport, Hesperia, California. The airplane was being operated by the pilot as a personal flight. The airplane was substantially damaged. The certificated private pilot received minor injuries. The flight originated in Fresno, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector on scene at the time, the pilot experienced a gust of wind and was forced to the right of the approach end of the runway where the left wing collided with the ground. The pilot applied full power in an attempt to go-around. The aircraft flew over and collided with a Cessna 310 (unoccupied) that was parked on the right side of the runway, inflicting minor damage to the right elevator. The aircraft remained airborne and proceeded down the runway. It then veered left across the runway toward the refueling area and collided with a Cessna 172 (N770LW) that was refueling. The FAA inspector said the pilot related to him during the rescue that he did not remember to compensate for density altitude; forgot to lean the fuel mixture for better performance; and, he was caught by a gust of wind at the end of the runway. The temperature at the time was estimated by the pilot to be 100 degrees Fahrenheit with the winds from the southeast at 20 knots. The weather observation at Daggett (about 40 miles to the northeast) was 96 degrees and winds from 050 degrees at 7 knots. The pilot stated in his accident report that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the aircraft prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N250CH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N250CH), registered now, S/N 250 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PAYNE FOSTER GLASAIR - Registry model: [Payne/Foster GLASAIR](https://openairdocs.org/model/payne-foster-glasair) (registry code 05655PB) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 250 - Airframe hours: 370 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Mcintosh, Richard Laverne - Registered owner: Rodney A. Foster - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: FCH, FRESNO, CA - Destination: DAG, CA - Airport: L26, Hesperia, runway 21, 3,910 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; seat: left; flight hours: 2,000 total, 130 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 5° at 7 knots - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 97 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: DAG, 40 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 19940619015429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940619015429A), Jun 19, 1994: Amtr GLASAIR, Hesperia, CA, Substantial damage. Drifted off runway alignment in crosswind. Dragged wing. Floated. Struck two parked planes. Blamed 100 degree heat. ## Other investigations on N250CH (1) 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. - [NTSB ERA11CA471](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA471), Aug 24, 2011: Payne/Foster Glasair (N250CH), Ocala, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the tailwheel locking mechanism to remain engaged while landing in a crosswind, which resulted in a loss of directional control and runway excursion. 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.