# NTSB LAX97LA127: Passadori Norman Breezy, N16KB, Gilroy, CA, March 19, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 19, 1997, 15:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Gilroy, CA - Coordinates: 37.060333, -121.550003 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0603&lon=-121.5500&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious - Status: Completed, report October 14, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29745 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX97LA127 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29745/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA127 ## Probable cause The pilot's delayed decision to reverse course while climbing into rising terrain, and his failure to maintain an adequate airspeed margin which resulted in a stall/mush into trees and terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction - terrain condition - blind/box canyon - object - tree(s) - maneuver to avoid obstructions - delayed, pilot in command (cause) - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall/mush - encountered, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The passenger, also an airline transport pilot, reported that the pilot had fueled the aircraft to capacity before takeoff. The passenger was in the rear seat of the 125-horsepower aircraft as they climbed from takeoff toward a ridge line separating them from their sightseeing destination. They were climbing slowly up a canyon at low altitude when the pilot acknowledged that the aircraft was not climbing fast enough to clear the ridge. The pilot attempted to reverse course, but during the turn the aircraft mushed and the right wing struck a tree. The aircraft then cartwheeled onto the ground. The passenger stated that there were no mechanical problems with the aircraft. ## Factual narrative On March 19, 1997, at 1530 hours Pacific standard time, an experimental Passadori Norman Breezy, N16KB, collided with trees while maneuvering at a low altitude near Gilroy, California. The airline transport pilot was fatally injured, one passenger was seriously injured, and the aircraft was destroyed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight which departed about 1510 from the Hollister, California, municipal airport. In an interview with inspectors from the FAA San Jose Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) on March 26, 1997, the passenger, also an airline transport pilot, reported that the pilot had fueled the aircraft to capacity before takeoff from Hollister. The passenger was in the rear seat of the 125-horsepower aircraft as they climbed from takeoff toward a ridge line separating them from their sightseeing destination, Coyote Reservoir. They were climbing slowly up a canyon at low altitude when the pilot acknowledged that the aircraft was not climbing fast enough to clear the ridge. The pilot attempted to reverse course to the right, but during the turn the aircraft mushed and the right wing struck a tree. The aircraft then cartwheeled onto the ground. The passenger stated that there were no mechanical problems with the aircraft. The pilot's son told the same FSDO inspectors that this was the third aircraft of this type that his father had owned. His father had commented that this airplane was under-powered and that he was considering installing a 150-horsepower engine. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N16KB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N16KB-1998-07-09), registration cancelled 1998-07-09, S/N 95324 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Passadori Norman BREEZY - Registry model: [Passadori Norman BREEZY](https://openairdocs.org/model/passadori-norman-breezy) (registry code 05650E4) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 953-24 - Airframe hours: 402 - Engines: Lycoming O-290-G 125 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Kenneth J. Bunker - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 16, 1996 - Departed: 3O7, HOLLISTER, CA - Destination: RHV, SAN JOSE, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 10,000 total, 400 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 6 knots - Visibility: 16 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: SJC, 26 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 19970319003309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970319003309A), Mar 19, 1997: Amtr BREEZY FWS, Gilroy, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Flew low up a canyon. Unable clear terrain tried reverse course. Struck trees. (.19) on March 19, 1997, at 1530 hours pacific standard time, an experimental… 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.