# NTSB WPR22LA049: Taylorcraft BL-65, N29508, New Cuyama, CA, November 24, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: November 24, 2021, 10:20 local (18:20 UTC)
- Place: New Cuyama, CA
- Coordinates: 34.814, -119.9591 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8140&lon=-119.9591&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Security/criminal event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/350)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 104325
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA049
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104325/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104325
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA049

## Probable cause

The pilot’s decision to intentionally crash the airplane.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Taylorcraft BL-65, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=8850350), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Intentional act](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02051000): Personnel issues › Miscellaneous · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Taylorcraft BL-65, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02051000/cases.md?model=8850350), [All aircraft, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02051000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute-cruise: Security/criminal event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/350) (defining event); cases with it: [Taylorcraft BL-65, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/350/sequence.md?model=8850350), [All aircraft, 27 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/350/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that the airplane’s engine lost power during cruise flight over mountainous terrain. He stated that after determining that there were no available emergency landing spots, he decided to bail out. The airplane was destroyed during the impact sequence, and the pilot sustained minor injuries as a result of the parachute jump. Shortly after the accident, the pilot provided a statement regarding the circumstances to the NTSB and FAA, and in a series of correspondences later stated that he had not been able to locate the airplane wreckage. However, evidence gathered by the NTSB and FAA indicated that the pilot had recovered the airplane from the accident site, destroyed it, and then disposed of the remains. The case was referred to the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, and in May 2023, the pilot admitted to the US Attorney’s Office that he both intentionally crashed the airplane, and destroyed the evidence. He plead guilty to a felony charge for obstructing a federal investigation by deliberately destroying the airplane wreckage.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N29508](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N29508), registered now, S/N 2351, built 1940 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: TAYLORCRAFT BL-65
- Registry model: [Taylorcraft BL-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/taylorcraft-bl-65) (registry code 8850350) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-145B series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-145b-series) (registry code 41502, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 2351
- Year built: 1940
- Airframe hours: 2533
- Engines: LYCOMING O-145B SERIES 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 18, 2016, 0.5 hours before
- Departed: LPC, Lompoc, CA
- Destination: MMH, Mammoth Lakes, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 16, 2020; seat: front; flight hours: 166 total, 5.5 in this make and model, 166 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observed at: KIZA, 14 nm away
- METAR: METAR KIZA 241815Z AUTO 24004KT 10SM CLR 13/04 A3010 RMK AO2=

## 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 20211124019909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211124019909A), Nov 24, 2021: Taylorcraft BL-65, New Cuyama, CA, Destroyed. The only evidence provided are the pilots statements. The pilot stated there was a loss of power from the engine. He stated it could not be restarted since it…

## Docket (7 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 17, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104325. 21.5 MB in all.

- Electronic devices (microsd cards) - specialist's factual report (item 1, PDF, 14 pages, 223 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13592090&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR22LA049_ElectronicDevices_final3-Rel.pdf
- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 2, PDF, 15 pages, 8.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15553689&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=r_6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Interview summary - pilot (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 152 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15609176&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Interview%20Summary-Rel.pdf
- FAA primary target radar data - no discrete transponder code (item 4, CSV, 86 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15554132&FileExtension=csv&FileName=IOP18%20Google%20Earth%20Radar%20Path%20SBA-SBA2-Rel.csv
- Us attorney's office charges (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15553578&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=r_USAO%20Charges_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot plea agreement (item 6, PDF, 18 pages, 7.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15609186&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=r_Trevor%20Jacob%20Plea%20Agreement_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Evidence control forms (item 7, PDF, 18 pages, 15 photos, 4.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15555418&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=r_Evidence%20Control%20Forms_Redacted-Rel.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.

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