# NTSB LAX95LA051: American AA-1, N6236L, Oasis, CA, December 15, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 14, 1994, 16:20 local (Dec 15, 1994, 00:20 UTC)
- Place: Oasis, CA
- Coordinates: 33.480548, -116.099067 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4805&lon=-116.0991&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report August 31, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 28993
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX95LA051
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28993/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA051

## Probable cause

the pilot's improper inflight decision by selecting an inadequate terrain clearance altitude over mountainous terrain.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - terrain condition - rising
  - terrain condition - blind/box canyon
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - altitude/clearance - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE COMMERCIAL PILOT AND PASSENGER WENT ON A SIGHTSEEING FLIGHT. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, AFTER FLYING FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES HE TURNED AWAY FROM LOW ELEVATION TERRAIN AND BEGAN FLYING 'LENGTHWISE OVER A PICTURESQUE CANYON.' THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AS THE ELEVATION OF THE TERRAIN INCREASED, HE APPLIED FULL ENGINE POWER AND BEGAN MANEUVERING AT THE BEST ANGLE OF CLIMB AIRSPEED. THE PILOT INDICATED THAT HE WAS NOT ABLE TO CLIMB OVER THE RISING TERRAIN. THE AIRPLANE CRASHED INTO THE BOX CANYON. NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WERE EXPERIENCED DURING THE FLIGHT.

## Factual narrative

On December 14, 1994, at 1620 hours Pacific standard time, an American AA-1, N6236L, owned and operated by the pilot, collided with mountainous terrain while maneuvering up a box canyon about 10 nautical miles southwest of Thermal, California.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed during the personal flight, and no flight plan was filed.  The airplane was destroyed, and the commercial pilot and pilot-rated passenger were seriously injured.  The flight originated from Palm Springs, California, on the day of the accident at 1535.

In the pilot's accident report, he indicated that during the initial portion of the sightseeing flight he flew on a southeasterly direction near the cities of Palm Springs, Palm Desert, and Bermuda Dunes.  After flying for about 30 minutes, he turned westerly to "fly lengthwise over a picturesque canyon."

The pilot further reported that as the elevation of the terrain increased, he applied full engine power and attempted to gain altitude while climbing at the best angle of climb airspeed.  The pilot indicated that the airplane was not able to climb over the rising terrain, and there was insufficient maneuvering room from the hillsides to reverse course.  During the accident flight, no mechanical malfunctions or failures were experienced with the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6236L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6236L-1996-07-19), registration cancelled 1996-07-19, S/N AA10436 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMERICAN AA-1
- Registry model: [American AA-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-aa-1) (registry code 0630610) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 436
- Airframe hours: 1919
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-C2C 108 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Nathan  Carriker
- Registered owner: Millard & Nathan Carriker
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 4, 1994, 45 hours before
- Departed: PSP, PALM SPRINGS, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 4,135 total, 394 in this make and model, 796 as pilot in command, 162 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 40 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 19941214043459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941214043459A), Dec 14, 1994: Gulstm AA1, Thermal, CA, Destroyed. Unable to outclimb rising terrain or turn around. Collided with 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.