# NTSB LAX96LA019: Eaa Chapter 163 Breezy RLU-1A, N3184, Henderson, NV, October 21, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 21, 1995, 15:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Henderson, NV - Coordinates: 36.040012, -114.929244 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0400&lon=-114.9292&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 29, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29315 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX96LA019 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29315/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96LA019 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain a proper cruise altitude and his inadequate in-flight planning. Contributing factors were encountering rising terrain and a downdraft. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise - normal - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor) - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor) - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis AFTER TAKING OFF FROM A DRY LAKE BED, THE PILOT INTENDED TO FLY TO THE AIRPORT. WHILE CRUISING EN ROUTE FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES AT A LOW ALTITUDE, HE ENCOUNTERED STRONG WINDS, DOWNDRAFTS, AND RISING TERRAIN. THE PILOT FURTHER REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE CLIMBED OVER THE FIRST RIDGE. APPROACHING THE SECOND RIDGE, HE ENCOUNTERED 'A SEVERE DOWN DRAFT' AND THE AIRPLANE PANCAKED INTO THE UP-SLOPING ROCKY GROUND. HE REPORTED NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. ## Factual narrative On October 21, 1995, at 1530 hours Pacific daylight time, an Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Breezy RLU-1A, N3184, collided with terrain about 10 miles south-southeast of Henderson, Nevada. The airplane was owned by the EAA and was substantially damaged. The certificated commercial pilot received serious injuries, and the passenger was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The personal flight originated from the El Dorado Dry Lake Bed about 1525. The pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board that, after taking off, he intended to fly to the North Las Vegas Air Terminal. While en route, he encountered strong winds, down drafts, and rising terrain. The pilot further reported that the airplane climbed over the first ridge. Approaching the second ridge, he encountered "a severe down draft" and was not able to climb over the rising terrain. The airplane pancaked into the up-sloping rocky ground. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3184](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3184-2012-09-27), registration cancelled 2012-09-27, S/N 163, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: EAA CHAPTER 163 BREEZY RLU-1A (BREEZY RLU) - Registry model: [Eaa BREEZY RLU-1A](https://openairdocs.org/model/eaa-breezy-rlu-1a) (registry code 0562070) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 163 - Airframe hours: 979 - Engines: LYCOMING O-290D 125 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Experimental Acft Assoc Chap 1 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, November 15, 1994, 96 hours before - Departed: EL DORADO DRY, NV - Destination: VGT, NORTH LAS VEGAS, NV ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 1,416 total, 26 in this make and model, 1,318 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 25 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °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 19951021033679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951021033679A), Oct 21, 1995: Amtrrl BREEZYRLU1, Henderson, NV, Substantial damage. Encountered strong wind downdrafts and rising terrain. Pancacked into upslope rocky ground. ## Other investigations on N3184 (3) 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 LAX02LA268](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA268), Aug 31, 2002: Breezy RLU-1A (N3184), North Las Vegas, NV, substantial damage. Probable cause: the failure of both pilots to maintain an adequate terrain clearance altitude while maneuvering in a canyon. - [NTSB SEA84LA127](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA84LA127), Jun 10, 1984: Breezy RLU-1A (N3184), Jean, NV, substantial damage - [NTSB LAX80FVW23](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX80FVW23), Aug 11, 1980: Breezy RLU-1A (N3184), Las Vegas, NV, substantial damage 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.