# NTSB LAX96LA156: Twibell Tangent 65, N4309M, Lucerne Valley, CA, April 6, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 6, 1996, 08:14 local (16:14 UTC) - Place: Lucerne Valley, CA - Coordinates: 34.519584, -116.879287 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5196&lon=-116.8793&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report August 20, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29407 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX96LA156 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29407/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96LA156 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain altitude. Factors in the accident were: the pilot's decision to buzz the area and his ostentatious display. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - buzzing - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - ostentatious display, pilot in command (contributing factor) - altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The two airplanes had executed a touch-and-go on a dry lake. The first airplane reentered the upwind leg, and the accident airplane executed a low level left steep turn around the windsock. Ground witnesses observed the accident airplane's altitude decrease as its bank angle steepened. The airplane's left wing struck the ground and the airplane cartwheeled, coming to rest inverted about 30 feet from the initial impact point. ## Factual narrative On April 6, 1996, at 0814 hours Pacific standard time, an amateur built Twibell Tangent 65, N4309M, collided with the terrain at Rabbit Springs Dry Lake, Lucerne Valley, California. The pilot was conducting a local visual flight rules personal flight. The airplane, owned and operated by the pilot, was destroyed. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, sustained fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at Apple Valley Airport, Apple Valley, California, at an undetermined time. An FAA inspector from the Riverside [California] Flight Standards District Office conducted the on-scene investigation. The inspector reported that the pilot flew to the accident area behind his friend who was flying another airplane. Both airplanes executed a touch-and-go landing and takeoff on the dry lake. A ground witness told the inspector that the first airplane continued on the upwind leg and the accident pilot began to fly around the windsock about 80 feet above the ground. The airplane's bank angle began to steepen as the pilot continued the turn. As the bank angle steepened, the airplane began to lose altitude until the left wing struck the river bed. The airplane then cartwheeled and came to rest, inverted, about 30 feet from the initial point of impact. The FAA inspector said that the wreckage examination disclosed no evidence of any preimpact malfunctions or failures. The pilot of the other airplane told a San Bernardino Sheriff's Department deputy that he and the other pilot were flying to Yucca Valley, California, in their individual airplanes. He said that during the flight he made a low pass over the dry lake in a southerly heading. He heard the other pilot transmit over the radio that he was 2 miles behind him. The pilot of the other airplane said that he began a left turn to intercept the accident pilot. He saw the accident pilot's airplane below and in front of his airplane. Moments later, the accident pilot's airplane nose dropped and then he saw a cloud of dust. The San Bernardino County Coroner's Office performed the post mortem and toxicological examinations on the pilot. The toxicological examinations were negative for alcohol or drugs. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4309M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4309M-2003-10-07), registration cancelled 2003-10-07, S/N RT002, built 1995 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: TWIBELL TANGENT 65 - Registry model: [Twibell Richard Dale TANGENT 65](https://openairdocs.org/model/twibell-richard-dale-tangent-65) (registry code 05626XK) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: RT002 - Engines: Continental C-65 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Larry R. Mccluan - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: APV, APPLE VALLEY, CA - Destination: L22, YUCCA VALLEY, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 625 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 19 °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 19960406006109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960406006109A), Apr 6, 1996: Amtr TANGENT65, Lucerne Valley, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Circled windsock at 80FT AGL steep ening bank to vertical. Wing hit dry lake bed. Homebuilt cartwheeled. 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.