# NTSB LAX99LA056: Weber CA-65, N5656, Red Bluff, CA, December 17, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 17, 1998, 10:51 local (18:51 UTC) - Place: Red Bluff, CA - Coordinates: 40.130779, -122.429817 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1308&lon=-122.4298&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report February 16, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 45524 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX99LA056 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45524/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA056 ## Probable cause The failure of the pilot to remove the right seat belt from around the right control stick, which resulted in a loss of aircraft control. An additional cause is the pilot's failure to use a checklist. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - flt control syst,yoke/control stick - jammed - removal of control/gust lock(s) - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - checklist - not followed, pilot in command (cause) - aircraft control - not possible, pilot in command - stall - encountered - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The pilot reported that he had wrapped the right seat belt around the right control stick to hold it back while starting the engine. He stated that he forgot to remove the seat belt before takeoff and the aircraft stalled and veered left off the runway in the takeoff initial climb. The pilot did not use a checklist before taxiing. The airplane is configured with side-by-side seating and the pilot was flying from the left seat. ## Factual narrative On December 17, 1998, at 1051 hours Pacific standard time, a Weber CA-65, N5656, collided with terrain following a loss of control during the takeoff initial climb from the Red Bluff, California, Airport. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, and the private pilot/owner, the sole occupant, suffered serious injuries. The personal flight was originating at the time of the accident and was en route to Redding, California. The flight was being conducted under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported that he had wrapped the right seat belt around the right control stick to hold it back while starting the engine. He stated that he forgot to remove the seat belt before takeoff and the aircraft stalled and veered left off the runway. He further reported that the airplane is configured with side-by-side seating and he was flying from the left seat. In his report the pilot suggested that the accident could have been prevented by doing "a complete check with [the] checklist before taxiing." According to the Federal Aviation Administration airman records, the last medical of record for the pilot was a third-class certificate issued on June 27, 1994. The pilot reported that he had last received a biennial flight review in 1993. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5656](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5656-1999-02-25), registration cancelled 1999-02-25, S/N 1928 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: WEBER CA-65 - Registry model: [Weber CA-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/weber-ca-65) (registry code 0562089) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1928 - Airframe hours: 400 - Engines: Lycoming IO-320-BIA 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Armal Owens - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, September 16, 1998, 2 hours before - Departed: RBL - Destination: RDD, REDDING, CA - Airport: RBL, Red Bluff Muni, runway 33, 5,984 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: expired; seat: left; flight hours: 1,000 total, 150 in this make and model, 800 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 3 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: RDD, 23 nm away ## Other investigations on N5656 (1) 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. - [NTSB LAX81FVG59](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81FVG59-124494), Aug 5, 1981: Sky Fly CA-65 (N5656), Redding, CA, substantial damage 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.