Sunday, July 07, 2013

Leza-Lockwood Aircam, N94C: Accident occurred July 07, 2013 in Groveland, California

http://registry.faa.gov/N94C

NTSB Identification: WPR13LA314 
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, July 07, 2013 in Groveland, CA
Probable Cause Approval Date: 06/11/2014
Aircraft: LUY WAYMAN LOCKWOOD AIRCAM, registration: N94C
Injuries: 1 Serious,1 Minor.

NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

The pilot was practicing touch-and-go landings with a direct 12-knot crosswind. Immediately after touchdown, a gust of wind impacted the airplane, and its left wing rose about 45 degrees. The pilot applied power for a go-around, and the airplane became airborne. The pilot did not compensate for the crosswind, and the airplane drifted sideways and impacted a tree near the runway. The airplane’s right wing separated and remained in the tree, and the fuselage and left wing fell to the ground. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot’s inadequate compensation for a crosswind and failure to maintain airplane control during a go-around.


On July 7, 2013, at 1231 Pacific daylight time, a Luy Wayman Lockwood Air cam twin engine experimental amateur-built airplane, N94C, was substantially damaged when it impacted a tree during a go-around at Pine Mountain Lake Airport (E45), Groveland, California. The private pilot was seriously injured and his passenger received minor injuries. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight, which had originated approximately 1 hour before the accident. A flight plan had not been filed.

The pilot reported that he had departed from Pine Mountain and flown to Columbia Airport (O22), which was about 15 nautical miles away. He practiced several touch-and-go landings and returned to Pine Mountain for more practice landings. The pilot said the wind at Pine Mountain was a direct crosswind of about 12 knots. On his second approach, shortly after touchdown, a gust of wind impacted the airplane. He said the left wing went up about 45 degrees and the airplane pivoted a bit to the right on its right main landing gear. He applied power for a go-around, and the airplane became airborne. The airplane was pushed sideways by the wind, and it struck a tree about 1,400 feet from the approach end of the runway.

The airplane's right wing separated from the fuselage and remained in the tree. The fuselage and left wing fell to the ground and came to rest inverted.

The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.


 NTSB Identification: WPR13LA314
 14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, July 07, 2013 in Groveland, CA
Aircraft: LUY WAYMAN KIT, registration: N94C
Injuries: 1 Serious,1 Minor.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

On July 7, 2013, at 1231 Pacific daylight time, a Wayman Lockwood Aircam experimental home-built airplane, N94C, was substantially damaged during landing at Pine Mountain Lake Airport (E45), Groveland, California. The private pilot was seriously injured and his passenger received minor injuries. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight, which had originated approximately 1 hour before the accident. A flight plan had not been filed.

Witnesses reported that the airplane was landing when a gust of wind impacted the aircraft. The airplane struck a tree adjacent to the runway. The fuselage was bent and wrinkled.




 Groveland, CA -- The two people injured in Sunday's plane crash at Pine Mountain Lake Airport have been identified. 

 The pilot was Richard Merolla of San Francisco and the passenger was Dan Grimes of Groveland. The Tuolumne County Sheriff's Office reports that Merolla was transferred to a Modesto hospital and the extent of his injuries is not immediately known. Grimes was treated and released from Sonora Regional Medical Center.

The plane was an Aircam. The FAA and NTSB are investigating what led to the accident during the noon hour on Sunday. The plane was coming in for a landing when it hit a tree and crashed. 



Groveland, CA -- Officials are on scene of a plane crash near the Pine Mountain Lake Airport. 

Sgt. James Oliver of the Tuolumne County Sheriff's Office says the plane was coming in for a landing and was about half-way down the runway when it somehow got off track and clipped a tree. It then proceeded to go down off the side of the runway. There were two people inside, and both were taken by ground ambulance to an area hospital.

The Sheriff's Office says the extent of the injuries is not immediately known. A fire official on scene reported to us that both were in stable condition when they departed to the hospital.

The Sheriff's Office is awaiting officials to arrive from the
Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board to investigate the crash further. The make and model of the plane is not immediately clear. It is shown in the picture.

Source:  http://www.mymotherlode.com