# NTSB LAX98LA180: Vickers MK XVI, N382RW, Blue Canyon, CA, June 3, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 3, 1998, 10:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: Blue Canyon, CA - Coordinates: 38.91933, -121.070053 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9193&lon=-121.0701&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report December 1, 1999 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 30105 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX98LA180 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/30105/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA180 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain adequate terrain clearance and his VFR flight into instrument meteorological condition. Mountainous terran and obscurations are contributing factos. inadvertent flight into instrument meteorological conditions in mountainous terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly - weather condition - obscuration - vfr flight into imc - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot obtained a preflight weather briefing for a VFR flight across the mountains and stated he would be 30 minutes en route at 1,500 feet agl. According to witnesses parts of the mountainous terrain were obscured in clouds and fog. The wreckage was located the next day about 5 miles north of Blue Canyon about 5,500 feet msl. ## Factual narrative On June 3, 1998, about 1045 hours Pacific daylight time, a Vickers Supermarine MK XVI, N382RW, was destroyed after colliding with mountainous terrain near Blue Canyon, California. The pilot, the sole occupant, received fatal injuries. The personal flight originated at Chico, California, about 1017, and was destined for Minden, Nevada. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the departure point and destination, and no flight plan was filed. A California Highway Patrol helicopter located the wreckage on June 4, 1998, about 1415. The purpose of the flight was to reposition the aircraft after an airshow. The distance of the flight was about 125 miles over the Sierra Nevada Mountains. At 0754, the pilot obtained a preflight weather briefing for a VFR flight from Chico to Minden. He asked for actual and forecast weather. He stated that it should take about 30 minutes en route at 1,500 feet agl. The briefer initially reported mountain obscurations for the route. He further stated "that Blue Canyon was now (0758) showing a few clouds at 2,800 feet and it looked as though they have improved." At 0952, the Blue Canyon Metar was reporting: wind variable at 3 knots; visibility 5 miles; mist; ceiling 400 broken; 4,000 overcast; temperature 44 degrees Fahrenheit; dew point 32 degrees Fahrenheit; and the altimeter was 29.98 inHg. Witnesses reported that portions of the mountainous terrain were obscured in clouds and fog. The pilot was cleared for takeoff at 1017, followed by a low pass over the airport. A pilot witness in the town of Washington recognized the vintage warbird, and stated that the aircraft passed over the town about 400 feet agl at low cruise power and the weather was good. The wreckage was located the next day about 5 miles north of Blue Canyon about 5,500 feet msl. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N382RW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N382RW-2002-02-11), registration cancelled 2002-02-11, S/N CBAF11581, built 1945 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Vickers MK XVI - Registry model: [Vickers/Supermarine SPITFIRE MARK XVI](https://openairdocs.org/model/vickers-supermarine-spitfire-mark-xvi) (registry code 9470122) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rolls-Royce MERLIN](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-merlin) (registry code 54502, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: CBAF 11581 - Engines: Rolls-Royce MERLIN 1760 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Bernie F. Jackson Trustee - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: CIC, CHICO, CA - Destination: MEV, MINDEN TAHOE, NV ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 4,000 total ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 6 knots - Visibility: 0.25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 500 ft overcast - Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: BLU, 5 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 19980603012299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980603012299A), Jun 3, 1998: Blue Canyon, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Scud running in river Canyon encountered IMC. Wing hit trees trying to turn back in bottom of Canyon. (.4) on June 3, 1998, about 1045 hours pacific daylight… 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.