# NTSB LAX99LA033: Old Hen Crow G1, N6349T, Tehachapi, CA, November 16, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 16, 1998, 08:45 local (16:45 UTC) - Place: Tehachapi, CA - Coordinates: 35.119068, -118.510597 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1191&lon=-118.5106&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report June 21, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 45296 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX99LA033 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45296/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA033 ## Probable cause The failure of the pilot to maintain sufficient airspeed, which resulted in the aircraft entering a stall/mush flight condition that continued to impact. A factor in the accident was the pilot's lack of familiarity with the type of aircraft. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - downwind - airspeed - not obtained/maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall/mush - encountered, pilot in command - lack of familiarity with aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The pilot reported that the accident occurred on the first flight of the experimental aircraft following a 2.5-year restoration. The climb performance was poor after takeoff and, after several shallow banked turns, he returned to the airport. He recalled that while approaching the airport he looked inside the cockpit and when he looked back outside 'the aircraft was going down.' The pilot reported having no prior flight experience in this type aircraft and there were no mechanical malfunctions of the aircraft. A sheriff's deputy told the Safety Board investigator that, at the accident scene, the pilot told her he had 'stalled the plane out.' ## Factual narrative On November 16, 1998, at 0845 hours Pacific standard time, an experimental The Old Hen Crow G1, N6349T, was destroyed when the aircraft struck power transmission lines and crashed while approaching to land at the Tehachapi, California, Municipal Airport. The private pilot received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported that the accident occurred on the first flight of the aircraft following a 2.5-year restoration. He reported that the climb performance was poor after takeoff and, after making several shallow banked turns, he returned to the airport. He recalled that while on downwind leg for runway 11 he looked inside the cockpit and when he looked back outside "the aircraft was going down." The aircraft was not in a spin. The pilot reported having no prior flight experience in this type aircraft and that there were no mechanical malfunctions of the aircraft. A Kern County Sheriff's Deputy, who responded to the scene, told the Safety Board investigator that, at the accident scene, the pilot told her he had "stalled the plane out." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6349T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6349T-2000-04-03), registration cancelled 2000-04-03, S/N G1928J33 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: The Old Hen Crow G1 - Registry model: [OLD Hen Crow G1](https://openairdocs.org/model/old-hen-crow-g1) (registry code 0560134) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: G-1928J33 - Airframe hours: 340 - Engines: Continental A-65 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Kenneth C. Trager - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, November 16, 1998, 0 hours before - Airport: TSP, Tehachapi Municipal, runway 11, 4,035 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 1,450 total, 1,450 as pilot in command, 51 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MHV, 14 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 19981116031579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981116031579A), Nov 16, 1998: Kellet G1B, Tehachapi, CA, Destroyed. Acft struck power lines and crashed into a field(.19) on November 16, 1998, at 0845 hours pacific standard time, an experimental old hen crow G1, N6349T, was… 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.