# NTSB LAX99LA209: Blanco SEA Hawker, N2485, Yucca Valley, CA, June 6, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 6, 1999, 14:49 local (21:49 UTC) - Place: Yucca Valley, CA - Coordinates: 34.150691, -116.410072 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1507&lon=-116.4101&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report November 22, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46557 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX99LA209 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46557/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=46557 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA209 ## Probable cause A loss of control in flight for undetermined reasons that resulted in an in flight collision with terrain. A factor was turbulent weather conditions in mountainous/hilly terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, cruise - reason for occurrence undetermined - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly - weather condition - turbulence ## Analysis The owner/builder/pilot of a homebuilt experimental amphibian departed for a personal cross-country flight. About 32 minutes after departure the airplane was observed by witnesses flying north along a ridgeline in a desert area. The airplane made a sudden tight turn to the left and descended into the ground. A postaccident fire consumed the airframe and all engine accessories. One of four carbon fiber propeller blades was found separated from the propeller hub and free of impact damage. The other three blades were fire damaged. A detailed examination of the engine did not reveal any mechanical failure. A sheriff's helicopter pilot reported 'very turbulent and very rough' air above 100 feet agl. The density altitude was about 6,180 feet msl. ## Factual narrative On June 6, 1999, about 1449 hours Pacific daylight time, a homebuilt experimental Blanco Sea Hawker amphibian, N2485, operated by the owner/builder/pilot, was destroyed after colliding with terrain near Yucca Valley, California. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal cross-country flight operating under 14 CFR Part 91 and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated at Hemet, California, about 1417, and was destined for Park City, Utah. According to a sheriff's helicopter pilot, about 32 minutes after departure from Hemet, witnesses reported seeing the airplane flying from south to north along a ridgeline just southwest of the "saddle" separating Morongo Valley from Yucca Valley. The airplane was then observed to make a sudden tight turn to the left, and then angle into the ground. The pilot reported that the air above 100 feet agl was "very turbulent, very rough" that afternoon. A deputy coroner investigator reported the accident location as: 116 degrees 29 minutes 29.6 seconds north latitude by 34 degrees 06 minutes 20.1 seconds west longitude. The site elevation was reported as 3,207 feet msl and the density altitude was 6,180 feet msl. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector from the Riverside Flight Standards District Office conducted an accident site examination. He reported that a postaccident fire had consumed the airframe structure and all engine accessories. A Lycoming engine investigator, under the supervision of the FAA inspector, conducted a detailed engine examination. The inspector reported that there was no evidence found of mechanical failure or malfunction of the engine. One of four carbon fiber propeller blades was found separated from the propeller hub and free of impact damage. The other three were still attached to the propeller hub and fire damaged. No pilot or airplane logbooks were recovered. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2485](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2485-2013-09-26), registration cancelled 2013-09-26, S/N 138, built 1991 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Blanco SEA HAWKER - Registry model: [Blanco Corell Frank SEA HAWK](https://openairdocs.org/model/blanco-corell-frank-sea-hawk) (registry code 9570893) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 138 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2A 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Corell Frank Blanco - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: HMT, HEMET, CA - Destination: UNK, PARK CITY, UT ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; toxicology performed; flight hours: 500 total, 10 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: PSP, 16 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 19990606006419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990606006419A), Jun 6, 1999: Amtr SEAHAWK, Yucca Valley, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Witnesses said that the acft banked to the left, spiraled in, crashed, and caught fire, the pilot/sole occupant suffered fatal injuries, the acft was… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 14, 2000, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=46557. 683 KB in all. - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 1, .PDF, 397 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40447739&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Redacted.PDF - Toxicological Report (item 2, .PDF, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40447740&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Toxicological%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1. Accident site. Photo by Textron Lycoming. (item 3, .PDF, 74 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40124322&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20%20Accident%20site.%20%20Photo%20by%20Textron%20Lycoming.-Master.PDF - Photo 2. View of wreckage. Photo supplied by Textron Lycoming. (item 4, .PDF, 75 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40124323&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202.%20%20View%20of%20wreckage.%20%20Photo%20supplied%20by%20Textron%20Lycoming.-Master.PDF - Photo 3. View of one seperated propeller blade. Photo supplied by Textron Lycoming. (item 5, .PDF, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40124324&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203.%20%20View%20of%20one%20seperated%20propeller%20blade.%20%20Photo%20supplied%20by%20Textron%20Lycoming.-Master.PDF 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.