# NTSB SEA08LA070: Kidd Chris Harmon ROC, N96KR, Maricopa, CA, February 2, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 2, 2008, 10:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Maricopa, CA - Coordinates: 34.955833, -119.446662 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9558&lon=-119.4467&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report December 28, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 67474 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA08LA070 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67474/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08LA070 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate terrain clearance altitude while maneuvering in mountainous, hilly terrain. Contributing to the accident were hilly terrain, a low ceiling and gusty winds. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Terrain: mountainous/hilly terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Kidd Chris HARMON ROCKET 2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010/cases.md?model=05611OR), [All aircraft, 329 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Kidd Chris HARMON ROCKET 2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=05611OR), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [Ceiling/visibility/precip: low ceiling](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035010): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Kidd Chris HARMON ROCKET 2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035010/cases.md?model=05611OR), [All aircraft, 190 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Kidd Chris HARMON ROCKET 2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=05611OR), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Kidd Chris HARMON ROCKET 2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=05611OR), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot departed a location where visual meteorological conditions existed, and was attempting to fly to another location that was also reporting visual meteorological conditions. During the flight, the pilot entered an area of hilly terrain that was covered by a low overcast ceiling of variable height. While maneuvering through that area in winds that were reportedly gusting to 10 miles per hour, the airplane impacted the terrain. No evidence was found of any anomaly or malfunction of the airframe, flight controls, or engine. ## Factual narrative On February 2, 2008, about 1000 Pacific standard time, an experimental Kidd Harmon Rocket, N96KR, impacted the hilly terrain about 10 miles south of Maricopa, California. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant of the airplane, was killed, and the airplane, which was owned and operated by the pilot, was destroyed. The pilot of the 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 91 personal pleasure flight departed a private airstrip near Taft, California, around 0930. According to a family member, he was en route to the area around New Cuyama, California. No flight plan had been filed. There was no report of an ELT activation. At the time the pilot departed Taft, there were visual meteorological conditions (VMC), with 10 miles visibly, in both Taft and New Cuyama. But witnesses who lived in the area reported that there were low ceilings of variable heights and winds gusting to about 10 miles per hour in the hills between the two locations. Reportedly, although the visibility below the clouds was good, the ceiling was touching the top of the hills in many places throughout the area. It is believed that the pilot attempted to follow State Highway 33 through the narrow valley that runs northeast to southwest through the aforementioned hills. While the pilot was maneuvering in that area, the airplane impacted the terrain while traveling in a northwesterly direction. According to the FAA Inspector who responded to the scene, the airplane hit "very hard" in a nose-down attitude, and traveled about 150 feet before coming to rest. The impact created a three-foot-deep crater, and tore the engine from the airframe. When the pilot did not show up at his destination on the day of his departure, his family reported him missing, and a search was initiated. The wreckage was eventually spotted from the air four days after the accident. The airplane was relocated to the facilities of Aircraft Recovery Services, where it underwent an FAA directed teardown inspection. That inspection did not reveal any evidence of a pre-impact anomaly or malfunction of the airframe, flight controls, or engine components. The FAA's Forensic Toxicology Research Team performed a toxicological examination on specimens taken from the pilot. That examination was negative for screened drugs and consumed ethanol. Due to the elapsed time between the accident and the discovery of the wreckage, the standard tests for carbon monoxide and cyanide were not performed. The Kern County Coroner performed an autopsy on the pilot, and the cause of death was determined to be from blunt force injuries, with the manner of death being listed as accidental. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N96KR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N96KR-2017-04-07), registration cancelled 2017-04-07, S/N 2001, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: KIDD CHRIS HARMON ROC - Registry model: [Kidd Chris HARMON ROCKET 2](https://openairdocs.org/model/kidd-chris-harmon-rocket-2) (registry code 05611OR) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 2001 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-540 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Kidd Chris - Registered owner: Kidd Chris - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: L17, Taft, CA - Destination: L88, New Cuyama, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,600 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 50 °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 20080202011349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080202011349A), Feb 2, 2008: Amtr HARMONRCKT, Maricopa, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. (-23) The pilot departed on a local flight from a private strip near taft, CA at approximately 0930PST on 2/2/08. When the aircraft did not return by 1630PST,… 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.