# NTSB LAX98LA126: Victor Marsh Marsh 1, N166VP, Lone Pine, CA, March 21, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 21, 1998, 12:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Lone Pine, CA - Coordinates: 36.559997, -118.049636 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.5600&lon=-118.0496&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 3, 1999 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 30059 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX98LA126 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/30059/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA126 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper in-flight planning, misjudged terrain clearance, and failure to attain adequate altitude before attempting to traverse the mountain pass. Contributing factors were the high density altitude and the rising, 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, climb - to cruise - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor) - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly - terrain condition - rising - aircraft performance,climb capability - exceeded (contributing factor) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - altitude/clearance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - proper altitude - not attained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot intended to fly his homebuilt airplane, with its 65 horsepower engine, in a westward direction over the Sierra Nevada Mountains. After departure from the 3,680-foot mean sea level (msl) Lone Pine Airport, the pilot circled the area to gain altitude. Eventually the pilot located a mountain pass and proceeded in a westerly direction toward his home in Tracy, California. The elevation of the underlying terrain began increasing faster than the airplane was climbing, so the pilot made a forced landing on the snow-covered mountainside. The accident site elevation is about 10,500 feet msl and is about 8 miles southeast of Mt. Whitney. In the pilot's completed report, he indicated that no mechanical malfunctions or failures were experienced during the accident flight in his experimental airplane. ## Factual narrative On March 21, 1998, at 1200 hours Pacific standard time, a Victor Marsh, Marsh 1, N166VP, (experimental airplane) impacted trees and rising terrain about 10 miles southwest of Lone Pine, California. The airplane was substantially damaged and neither the commercial pilot nor the passenger was injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The personal flight originated from Lone Pine at 1100. The pilot verbally reported that he intended to fly his homebuilt airplane, with its 65 horsepower engine, in a westward direction over the Sierra Nevada Mountains. After departure from the 3,680-foot mean sea level (msl) Lone Pine Airport, he circled the area to gain altitude. Eventually the pilot located a mountain pass and proceeded in a westerly direction toward his home in Tracy, California. The pilot further reported that the elevation of the underlying terrain began increasing faster than his airplane was climbing. Unable to reverse course, he made a forced landing on the rising, snow-covered, mountainous terrain. The accident site elevation is about 10,500 feet msl and is about 8 miles southeast of Mt. Whitney. In the pilot's completed report, he indicated that at the time of the accident the wind was light and variable. There was no turbulence. The pilot also reported that no mechanical malfunctions or failures were experienced with his airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N166VP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N166VP-1998-08-28), registration cancelled 1998-08-28, S/N 166 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Victor Marsh MARSH 1 - Registry model: [Marsh Victor MARSH 1](https://openairdocs.org/model/marsh-victor-marsh-1) (registry code 05604FA) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 166 - Airframe hours: 84 - Engines: Revmaster 2100D 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Victor W. Marsh - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, November 9, 1997, 40 hours before - Departed: O26, CA - Destination: TCY, TRACY, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 939 total, 164 in this make and model, 870 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 30 °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 19980321004039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980321004039A), Mar 21, 1998: Amtr MARSH1, Lone Pine, CA, Substantial damage. Acft was flying in a canyon when it clipped a tree, crashed and was destroyed, Lone Pine, CA. 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.