Saturday, October 21, 2017

Cessna 120, N72552: Accident occurred October 21, 2017 at Coastal Carolina Regional Airport (KEWN), New Bern, North Carolina

Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf 

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Greensboro, North Carolina

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms

Aviation Accident Data Summary - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf


http://registry.faa.gov/N72552

Location: New Bern, NC
Accident Number: GAA18CA027
Date & Time: 10/21/2017, 1030 EDT
Registration: N72552
Aircraft: CESSNA 120
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of control on ground
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal

Analysis

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during landing, he believed he "just hit a little to[o] hard," and the airplane porpoised. He added that he attempted to recover but could not get control of the airplane. Subsequently, the airplane exited the runway to the left and nosed over.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage and the left wing lift strut.

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

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:

The pilot's improper landing flare and subsequent failure to maintain directional control during landing.

Findings

Aircraft

Directional control - Not attained/maintained (Cause)
Landing flare - Not attained/maintained (Cause)

Personnel issues
Aircraft control - Pilot (Cause)

Factual Information

History of Flight

Landing

Hard landing
Loss of control on ground (Defining event)
Runway excursion
Nose over/nose down 

Pilot Information

Certificate: Private
Age: 63, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 3-point
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: BasicMed Without Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 05/30/2017
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 08/10/2017
Flight Time: (Estimated) 446 hours (Total, all aircraft), 6 hours (Total, this make and model), 307 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft) 

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Manufacturer: CESSNA
Registration: N72552
Model/Series: 120 NO SERIES
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1946
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 9722
Landing Gear Type: Tailwheel
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 07/30/2017, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 1450 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 5005.12 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: CONT MOTOR
ELT: C91A installed, activated, did not aid in locating accident
Engine Model/Series: C85 SERIES
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 85 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held:  None 

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan


Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KEWN, 24 ft msl
Observation Time: 1451 UTC
Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles
Direction from Accident Site: 219°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Temperature/Dew Point: 22°C / 14°C
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility:  10 Miles
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 3 knots, 70°
Visibility (RVR):
Altimeter Setting: 30.35 inches Hg
Visibility (RVV):
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: WASHINGTON, NC (OCW)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: New Bern, NC (EWN)
Type of Clearance: VFR
Departure Time: 1000 EDT
Type of Airspace: Class D

Airport Information

Airport: COASTAL CAROLINA REGIONAL (EWN)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 18 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 22
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 6453 ft / 150 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Touch and Go; Traffic Pattern

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude:  35.073611, -77.042500 (est)

Preventing Similar Accidents  

Stay Centered: Preventing Loss of Control During Landing

Loss of control during landing is one of the leading causes of general aviation accidents and is often attributed to operational issues. Although most loss of control during landing accidents do not result in serious injuries, they typically require extensive airplane repairs and may involve potential damage to nearby objects such as fences, signs, and lighting.

Often, wind plays a role in these accidents. Landing in a crosswind presents challenges for pilots of all experience levels. Other wind conditions, such as gusting wind, tailwind, variable wind, or wind shifts, can also interfere with pilots’ abilities to land the airplane and maintain directional control.

What can pilots do?


Evaluate your mental and physical fitness before each flight using the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) “I'M SAFE Checklist." Being emotionally and physically ready will help you stay alert and potentially avoid common and preventable loss of control during landing accidents.

Check wind conditions and forecasts often. Take time during every approach briefing to fully understand the wind conditions. Use simple rules of thumb to help (for example, if the wind direction is 30 degrees off the runway heading, the crosswind component will be half of the total wind velocity).

Know your limitations and those of the airplane you are flying. Stay current and practice landings on different runways and during various wind conditions. If possible, practice with a flight instructor on board who can provide useful feedback and techniques for maintaining and improving your landing procedures.

Prepare early to perform a go around if the approach is not stabilized and does not go as planned or if you do not feel comfortable with the landing. Once you are airborne and stable again, you can decide to attempt to land again, reassess your landing runway, or land at an alternate airport. Incorporate go-around procedures into your recurrent training.

During landing, stay aligned with the centerline. Any misalignment reduces the time available to react if an unexpected event such as a wind gust or a tire blowout occurs.

Do not allow the airplane to touch down in a drift or in a crab. For airplanes with tricycle landing gear, do not allow the nosewheel to touch down first.

Maintain positive control of the airplane throughout the landing and be alert for directional control difficulties immediately upon and after touchdown. A loss of directional control can lead to a nose-over or ground loop, which can cause the airplane to tip or lean enough for the wing tip to contact the ground.

Stay mentally focused throughout the landing roll and taxi. During landing, avoid distractions, such as conversations with passengers or setting radio frequencies.

Interested in More Information?


The FAA’s “Airplane Flying Handbook” (FAA-H-8083-3B), chapter 8, “Approaches and Landings,” provides guidance about how to conduct crosswind approaches and landings and discusses maximum safe crosswind velocities. The handbook can be accessed from the FAA’s website (www.faa.gov).

The FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam) provides access to online training courses, seminars, and webinars as part of the FAA’s “WINGS—Pilot Proficiency Program.” This program includes targeted flight training designed to help pilots develop the knowledge and skills needed to achieve flight proficiency and to assess and mitigate the risks associated with the most common causes of accidents, including loss of directional control. The courses listed below can be accessed from the FAASTeam website (www.faasafety.gov).

Avoiding Loss of Control
Maneuvering: Approach and Landing
Normal Approach and Landing
Takeoffs, Landings, and Aircraft Control

The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Air Safety Institute offers several interactive courses, presentations, publications, and other safety resources that can be accessed from its website (www.aopa.org/asf/).

The NTSB’s Aviation Information Resources web page, www.ntsb.gov/air, provides convenient access to NTSB aviation safety products.


The NTSB presents this information to prevent recurrence of similar accidents. Note that this should not be considered guidance from the regulator, nor does this supersede existing FAA Regulations (FARs). 

===

NEW BERN, Craven County - A small single passenger plane went off the runway and flipped over Saturday just before noon.

The plane was leaking fuel, according to the Craven County Fire Facebook page. Station 21,31, & Medic 20 responded.

According to Ira Whitford, Assistant Director of Emergency Services for Craven County, there were no injuries.

Original article can be found here ➤ http://www.wcti12.com

Air Force may recall up to 1,000 retired military pilots to address 'acute shortage'



The United States Air Force could recall as many as 1,000 retired military pilots to active-duty service to address an acute shortage in its ranks.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Friday allowing the Air Force to call back to service up to 1,000 retired aviation officers who wish to return, the White House and the Pentagon announced.

By law, only 25 retired pilots can be recalled through voluntary programs to serve in any one branch. Trump's executive order temporarily removes this limit by expanding a state of national emergency declared by President George W. Bush after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001 as part of efforts "to mitigate the Air Force's acute shortage of pilots," according to Pentagon spokesman Navy Commander Gary Ross. 

Secretary of Air Force Heather Wilson has said the service was short 1,555 pilots at the end of the 2016 fiscal year, including 1,211 fighter pilots.

To help make the pilot job more attractive, the Air Force expanded its aviation bonus program in August and increased incentive pay earlier this month for officers and enlisted crew members for the first time since 1999, according to Wilson.

“We need to retain our experienced pilots and these are some examples of how we’re working to do that,” Wilson said in a statement announcing the new measures on Aug. 25. “We can’t afford not to compensate our talented aviators at a time when [commercial] airlines are hiring unprecedented numbers.”

On Friday, the government announced it was going further with a recall of retirees into active service.

"We anticipate that the Secretary of Defense will delegate the authority to the Secretary of the Air Force to recall up to 1,000 retired pilots for up to three years," Ross said in a statement Friday. "The pilot supply shortage is a national level challenge that could have adverse effects on all aspects of both the government and commercial aviation sectors for years to come.," 

Story and comments ➤ http://abcnews.go.com

Unknown or Undetermined: Extra EA 300/L, N414MT; fatal accident occurred October 21, 2017 in Four Corners, California

Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board

The National Transportation Safety Board traveled to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entities:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; San Diego, California
Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Investigation; Braunschweig, Germany 
Lycoming Engines; Williamsport, Pennsylvania 

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket

Registered to KD Leasing LLC

Operated by California Extreme Adventures LLC doing business as Sky Combat Ace

Location: Four Corners, California 
Accident Number: WPR18FA013
Date & Time: October 21, 2017, 16:12 Local 
Registration: N414MT
Aircraft: Flugzeugproduktions-und Vertri EA 300/L
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Defining Event: Unknown or undetermined
Injuries: 2 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Instructional

Analysis

The commercial pilot and passenger departed in the aerobatic airplane to an area established by the operator for accomplishing aerobatic maneuvers. Although operating as a flight training company, the operator described itself as an "extreme aviation attraction," providing a series of aviation-related experiences that included aerobatics, simulated air combat, and flight training, during which passengers had the opportunity to fly the airplane. The accident flight was a 25-minute-long "Top Gun" experience, which incorporated aerobatics, high-g maneuvers, and a low-level bombing run simulation.

Radar data revealed that the airplane flew to the standard practice area while performing the maneuvers. About that time, witnesses observed the airplane performing aerobatic maneuvers, then watched the airplane descend to the ground. One witness stated that he could see the airplane spiraling down behind a ridge. Another, who was closer to the accident site, stated that the airplane appeared to be descending at a rapid rate. He then heard popping sounds as the airplane passed behind a ridge and impacted the ground. Another witness, who was familiar with the aerobatic operations in the area, stated that the airplane appeared to be flying more aggressively than usual.

An accurate analysis of the final stages of the flight could not be derived due to the sample rate of the radar data relative to the airplane's rapid aerobatic movements.

An aft-facing onboard camera, mounted in front of the passenger was recording throughout the entire flight. The video revealed that the airplane was performing aerobatic maneuvers for about 7 minutes with both the pilot and passenger manipulating the controls. After the pilot completed a tumble maneuver, the airplane began to regain altitude. The passenger then moved his hands away from the flight controls and appeared to be bracing his arms against the sides of the airframe in anticipation for an aerobatic maneuver. The airplane then pitched up and rolled right, and then rolled left while the pilot made a "whooping" sound, as the airplane transitioned into an inverted spin. The passenger experienced negative g forces and reached up with his right arm up to secure the headphones that were pulling away from his head. The maneuver progressed, and its direction of rotation then reversed, until the airplane transitioned into an attitude such that only the sky was visible in the canopy.

The wind noise began to increase, and a gap began to appear at the interface between the canopy frame and fuselage, indicating that the airplane was approaching its never exceed speed. The passenger then began to aggressively be rocked from side to side; however, the sun could be seen gradually transitioning across the canopy, indicating the airplane was no longer tumbling and its attitude had
stabilized. Up until this point, the passenger appeared to be enjoying the flight, but his facial expression changed, and he looked down and reached forward with his right hand. At that moment, the pilot activated the canopy release handle and the canopy opened. The camera was ejected, and continued to record as it descended to the ground, capturing the airplane collide with terrain 6 seconds later.

The violent rocking movement experienced by the passenger in the final seconds did not correspond to the gradual movement of the sun in the canopy, and was likely a result of the pilot applying rapid control inputs, possibly to the rudder, in an attempt to regain airplane control. The pilot released the canopy very shortly after the rocking movements began, so it is likely that he quickly deduced that recovery was not possible and that a bailout was necessary. The collision with terrain happened so fast after canopy release that a successful bailout was unlikely. Both occupants' seat belts were found in the latched and locked positions, further indicating that they did not have enough time to egress the airplane. Likewise, both occupants were wearing parachutes, neither of which had been deployed. The video did not reveal any evidence of bird strike, fire, canopy failure, or flight control separation, and the passenger appeared to be conscious throughout the entire recording. Sound spectrum analysis revealed that the engine was operating within its normal operating speed range prior to the canopy opening.

The passenger's seatbelt harness was loose throughout the flight, and he could be seen moving up, down, and forward throughout the maneuvers, with particularly accentuated movement during the maneuver leading up to the accident. The position of his feet during the final maneuver could not be determined, however, inadvertent flight control interference could not be ruled out as he braced himself against the effects of the negative g-forces while secured with a loose seatbelt.

The debris field and wreckage distribution indicated that the airplane impacted the ground in a near vertical attitude at high speed. The airplane was heavily fragmented during the impact, but remnants of all flight control surfaces were found within the immediate vicinity of the accident site.

The airplane had recently been purchased by the operator, and although it was about 8 years old, it had very low total flight time. Post impact examination did not reveal any anomalies with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation; however, due to the extensive damage sustained during impact, such anomalies could not be ruled out.

The airplane was subject to two service bulletins (SB) pertaining to the flight controls, neither of which had been performed. The first required replacement of the rudder cable to prevent premature failure, however the airplane's rudder cable did not display evidence of failure in the area documented by the SB. The other SB required the addition of a safety clamp to the transponder after a report that a transponder had slid out of its rack and jammed against the pilot control stick during aerobatic maneuvers. It could not be determined if the transponder had moved during the accident flight and inhibited the control stick.

Federal Aviation Regulations do not require compliance with SB's for aircraft operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91.

Due to the physical trauma to the occupants, it was not possible to confirm or eliminate preexisting natural diseases that may have occurred before the accident. No samples definitively attributed to the pilot were available for toxicological testing, and only limited samples were available from the passenger.

Federal Aviation Regulations require commuter and on-demand operators to be appropriately certificated under 14 CFR Part 135; as such, their operations, pilots, and aircraft are subject to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations and oversight that exceed that of Part 91 operations. Part 135 also prohibits passengers from manipulating the flight controls, and FAA guidance generally does not allow anyone operating under Part 91 to advertise their services, however, exceptions exist for flight training.

The operator presented itself as a 14 CFR Part 61 flight school, and although they did provide upset recovery and tailwheel endorsement flight training and all the company pilots held flight instructor certificates, the vast majority of customers (including the accident passenger) did not hold any type of pilot certificate, and purchased flights for the aerobatic and air combat experience. Further, the operator's facilities were outfitted with equipment to host parties, including a bar, dart boards, pool tables, and basketball hoops. The company's website and sales literature was clearly directed toward the adventure and experience side of the business and contained numerous references to sightseeing. The operator employed a marketing director and actively advertised its services, often to groups, for corporate events and birthday, retirement, and wedding celebrations. Very little of the advertising was related to traditional flight training.

The operator's president stated that he had conferred with the FAA and made attempts to identify the appropriate operations category, and it was on that basis that he had chosen to establish the company as a Part 61 flight school operation. Limited FAA oversight exists for Part 61 operations, and there are essentially no regulations specifically tailored for the certification and comprehensive oversight of the "adventure flight" category that the company was essentially operating under.

Therefore, by operating as a Part 61 flight training provider, the company was able to advertise its services, expose fee-paying passengers to high-risk flight profiles, while circumventing the regulations and oversight for operators who provide transportation for compensation or hire.

The operator was involved in four other accidents in the previous 3 years, one of which resulted in two fatalities, and one of which was never reported to the NTSB, although it was required to be based upon the damage sustained to the airplane. Additionally, the operator was involved in two FAA enforcement actions during the same period, all involving incidents with passengers on board. In one case, a pilot's certificate was suspended for careless and reckless flying. In another, the FAA concluded that the pilot was likely acting carelessly and sanctioned him with safety awareness counselling.

Review of onboard video footage from the accident pilot's previous flights revealed that, although considered to be a mentor and conservative in nature by his colleagues, the pilot routinely flew airplanes beyond their operating limitations (specifically their vertical acceleration, or g limitations) and at speeds very close to the never-exceed speed, all with passengers on board. Review of footage taken with other pilots revealed a company-wide pattern of disregard for the airplane's published operating limitations and the company's own policies regarding airspeed and g limitations. Because both the accident airplane and other airplanes in the company fleet had been flown beyond their rated g limits, they would have been required to undergo additional maintenance checks. There was no evidence that such checks had ever been performed on the accident airplane; as such, the airplane was likely unairworthy at the time of the accident.

Both the company's ineffective internal controls and their ability to operate in an environment where limited FAA oversight existed allowed these behaviors and violations to continue.

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
Collision with terrain after the pilot was unable to regain airplane control during an aerobatic maneuver. Contributing to the accident was the operator's failure to provide effective internal oversight to identify and prohibit exceedance of the airplanes' performance parameters, and the lack of regulatory framework available to oversee and regulate such flight operations.

Findings

Personnel issues Aircraft control - Pilot
Aircraft (general) - Not attained/maintained
Organizational issues Oversight of personnel - Operator
Organizational issues Adequacy of policy/proc - FAA/Regulator

Factual Information

History of Flight

Maneuvering-aerobatics Unknown or undetermined (Defining event)
Maneuvering-aerobatics Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)

On October 21, 2017, at 1612 Pacific daylight time, an EXTRA Flugzeugproduktions-und VertriebsGmbH, EA 300/L, N414MT, collided with terrain within the watershed of the El Capitan Reservoir, near Four Corners, California. The flight instructor and passenger sustained fatal injuries and the airplane was destroyed. The airplane was registered to KD Leasing, LLC, and was being operated by
California Extreme Adventures, LLC, doing business as Sky Combat Ace (SCA), as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight, which departed Gillespie Field Airport (SEE), San Diego/El Cajon, California, at 1557.

SCA's website described itself as an "extreme aviation attraction," providing a series of aviation-related experiences, which it described as including aerobatics, air combat, and flight training. The accident flight was a 25-minute "Top Gun" experience which, according to sales literature, included "Advanced Aerobatics," "Basic Aerobatics," a "Low Level Bombing Run," "You Fly Maneuvers," and "You Fly Departure."

Ground-based radar tracking data provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) indicated that the airplane departed from runway 17 at SEE and initiated a climbing left turn, reaching a transponder reported altitude about 4,700 ft mean sea level (msl) about 5 nautical miles (nm) northeast of the airport. For the next 10 minutes, the airplane followed a track northeast along the general path of the San Diego River, then east of the El Capitan Reservoir and north toward the town of Four Corners. The track depicted a meandering path at varying airspeeds and altitudes between 4,300 and 6,300 ft msl in a manner consistent with aerobatic maneuvers. Multiple witnesses along the route reported seeing an airplane performing aerobatic maneuvers about the time indicated by the radar data.

At 1610, the airplane was about 15 nm from SEE and just north of the reservoir. It then began to track back to the southwest, climbing from 5,000 ft msl to 6,900 ft msl over the next 90 seconds. About 15 seconds later, the last radar return was recorded at the northern edge of the reservoir at an altitude of 3,800 ft msl (about 3,000 ft above ground level).

One witness, who was piloting a motorglider, was flying southwest and was inbound for SEE at 4,500 ft msl when she observed an airplane trailing white smoke and performing aerobatic maneuvers. The airplane was ahead of her and appeared to be at an altitude of about 3,500 ft msl at the northern end of the reservoir. As the witness's glider got closer to the airplane, the airplane was leveling out at the bottom of a loop when the smoke stopped. The witness was concerned that the other pilot would not see her, so she banked the glider to the left in order to present the glider's long wing profile to the other airplane for increased conspicuity. She then passed the airplane and did not see it again. The witness stated that the aerobatic maneuvers appeared standard and that the airplane did not appear to be in distress.

A witness who was in her residence about 3 miles north of the accident site stated that she was very familiar with the aerobatic operations in the area and had seen airplanes perform maneuvers in the same general location many times before. She stated that she was often drawn to look at the airplanes because she found the sound annoying. On this occasion, she noticed that the airplane was being flown either faster, more "recklessly," or more "intense" than usual, with sharper turns than she was used to seeing. She saw white smoke, but it was thicker than usual and lasted much longer. A short time later, the noise had stopped, and she saw a plume of smoke rising from the ground below. 

Another witness was also about 3 miles north of the accident site. He saw the airplane perform two "giant" loops, after which it began to climb and then started to "corkscrew" toward the ground. It then disappeared behind a ridge. Initially, he did not think anything was unusual because he had previously seen airplanes perform similar maneuvers over the same area; however, a few minutes later, he saw smoke rising from behind the ridge.

Another witness, located at a camping area about 1 mile northeast of the accident site, stated that he could hear an airplane performing maneuvers. He said that he heard a "dive" sound like the sound airplanes typically make in movies. The engine noise then stopped, and he heard a "pop pop" sound, followed a few seconds later by the sound of an impact. He looked toward the direction of the impact sound and saw a rising plume of black smoke.

Flight instructor Information

Certificate: Commercial; Flight instructor
Age: 54, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land; Multi-engine land
Seat Occupied: Rear
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None 
Restraint Used: 5-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane 
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): Airplane multi-engine; Airplane single-engine; Instrument airplane
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 2 With waivers/limitations 
Last FAA Medical Exam: December 12, 2016
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: March 8, 2016
Flight Time: (Estimated) 4289.2 hours (Total, all aircraft), 113 hours (Total, this make and model), 120 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 20 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 4 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Flight Instructor

The pilot was hired by SCA in May 2017, and according to the president of SCA, quickly came to be considered one of the company's most dependable and reliable pilots. The president stated that he was a good mentor, was conservative in nature, and provided supervision for some of the younger pilots. He further stated that the pilot was well-suited to work unsupervised at SCA's smaller SEE location.
The pilot's resume included experience in manufacturing and engineering until 2002, when he began to work as both a flight instructor and a commercial air tour pilot in the Southern California area. His experience included aerobatic, tailwheel, and emergency maneuver training in both the Pitts and Extra 200 series of aerobatic airplanes.

The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single- and multiengine land and instrument airplane. He also held a flight instructor certificate with ratings for airplane single- and multiengine, instrument airplane, and ground instructor (advanced).

His most recent FAA medical examination was conducted on December 12, 2016, following which he was issued a second-class medical certificate with the limitation that he must wear corrective lenses.

The last entry in the pilot's flight logbook was dated October 15, 2017. At that time, he had documented 4,289.3 total hours of flight experience, with 2,246.2 as a flight instructor. The logbooks revealed that he had accrued about 113 hours of total flight experience in the Extra 300 series, all since he first flew the type as part of his SCA initial hire training in May 2017. There were no entries indicating that he had flown the accident airplane; review of SCA records indicated that the accident flight was likely the third time he had flown it. The Extra 300 airplane that he usually flew was being used in Florida as part of an event. It was used because it was more suited for the cross-country trip, because it had a heater and autopilot, unlike the accident airplane.

SCA's base of operations was located near Las Vegas at Henderson Executive Airport (HND), Henderson, Nevada. The pilot was based in San Diego, and the day before the accident, he flew from there to Las Vegas by commercial airline and had dinner with SCA employees that night. SCA had sleeping quarters in Henderson. According to a company employee, all rooms were taken the night before the accident, so the pilot slept on a couch (which he had done before). He was observed to retire about 2200. No witnesses observed what time the pilot woke up, but one stated that it was not unusual for him to rise at 0600 and go for a run. All individuals who were with him stated that he was in good spirits, and none observed anything out of the ordinary.

About 1000 on the morning of the accident, the pilot flew a customer on a group combat mission from HND in an Extra 300 airplane. He then flew back to the SEE facility in the accident airplane with the company's director of marketing. The accident flight was his third flight of the day.

Passenger

The passenger did not hold any FAA pilot or medical certificates. He had had flown with SCA on a similar flight in December 2015 out of SCA's HND location.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Flugzeugproduktions-und Vertri
Registration: N414MT
Model/Series: EA 300/L 
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 2009
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Aerobatic; Normal
Serial Number: 1300
Landing Gear Type: Tailwheel 
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: October 1, 2017 100 hour 
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2095 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 12 Hrs
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 186.57 Hrs as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: LYCOMING
ELT: C126 installed, not activated 
Engine Model/Series: AEIO-580-B1A
Registered Owner: Rated Power: 310 Horsepower
Operator: 
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Does Business As: Sky Combat Ace
Operator Designator Code:

The tandem-seat normal and aerobatic category airplane was manufactured in 2009, imported into the US in 2013, and purchased by KD leasing on May 10, 2017. The airplane was equipped with dual flight controls, a Lycoming six-cylinder AEIO-580-B1A engine, and a three-blade hydraulic constant-speed propeller manufactured by MT Propellers. FAA and maintenance records did not reveal any
modifications to the airplane beyond the installation of a remote oil filter kit. According to the maintenance records, at the time of the last 100-hour inspection on October 1, 2017, the airframe and engine had accrued a total of 186.57 flight hours.

The airplane had a basic empty weight of 1,513 lbs and a maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of 2,095 lbs. The maneuvering speed limitation (Va) in the aerobatic category was 158 knots indicated (KIAS). The never-exceed (Vne) speed was 220 KIAS. The airplane was placarded with the following:

CAUTION: Particular caution must be exercised when performing maneuvers at speeds above Va (158 KIAS). Large or abrupt control inputs above this speed may impose unacceptably high loads which exceed the structural capability of the aircraft.

The airplane had g limitations in the aerobatic category of +/-10 g. This limit was only allowed with one person onboard, at a MTOW of 1,808 lbs. In a two-person configuration, the limits were +/-8 g at 1,918 lbs MTOW and +/-6 g at 2,095 lbs MTOW.

The pilot was seated in the rear seat for the accident flight. With a pilot weight of 173 lbs, passenger weight of 195 lbs, 30 lbs of parachute equipment and 25 gallons of fuel, the airplane's weight on the accident flight would have been about 2,061 lbs.

The airplane was equipped with a mechanical accelerometer (g-meter) which had a sweep range of -6 g to +10 g. The unit had maximum and minimum g needles that recorded the highest and lowest sensed g values, respectively. Both needles could be reset to zero using a button on the front of the instrument bezel.

The airplane was equipped with a one-piece plexiglass and composite canopy, which was fixed by three hinges on the right side and was opened by the pilot lifting it to the right. It had forward and aft interior locking handles, which were painted bright red and located on the left side of the canopy frame and within reach and view of both seats. The canopy was unlocked by squeezing the handles together, whereby three locking pins on the left side of the canopy would slide forward and out of locking sleeves mounted to the airframe. According to the airplane's information manual, if unlatched during normal flight, the canopy will open automatically due to low pressure over its surface. The canopy can be jettisoned by pushing it forward while opening.

The airplane manufacturer issued two service bulletins (SBs) applicable to the accident airplane's model. SB 300-1-15 was issued on May 5, 2015, following reports of throttle cable failures; it recommended the inspection and replacement of the throttle cable. SB 300-1-11 was issued July 18, 2011, after a report that a transponder had slid out of its rack and jammed against the control stick during aerobatic maneuvers; it recommended the installation of a safety clamp.

The FAA issued Special Information Airworthiness Bulletin (SAIB) CE-12-01, applicable to the accident airplane's model, on October 24, 2011, after receiving a report of a severely frayed stainless steel rudder cable. The SAIB recommended careful inspection of the rudder cable and its eventual replacement with a galvanized version, when available.

The maintenance records for the airplane contained no record of compliance with SB 300-1-15, SB 300-1-11, or SAIB CE-12-01. Federal Aviation Regulations do not require compliance with SBs or SAIBs for aircraft operating under 14 CFR Part 91.

During the investigation, multiple parties contacted the NTSB regarding a rudder pedal inspection airworthiness directive (AD 98-24-07) that had been issued for the airplane type. Subsequent research indicated that this AD was not applicable to the accident airplane based on airplane serial number. According to the airplane's service manual, in the event of exceedances of limitations such as load factor and never exceed speed, the manufacturer should be contacted for appropriate unscheduled maintenance check procedures. There were no entries in the airplane's logbooks documenting that such exceedances had occurred or that unscheduled maintenance inspections were performed.

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual (VMC)
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KSEE,387 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 13 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 22:47 Local 
Direction from Accident Site: 236°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear 
Visibility 10 miles
Lowest Ceiling: None 
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 9 knots / 
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:  /
Wind Direction: 300° 
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: /
Altimeter Setting: 29.97 inches Hg 
Temperature/Dew Point: 26°C / 12°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: El Cajon, CA (SEE)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: El Cajon, CA (SEE) 
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 15:57 Local
Type of Airspace: Class E
A weather sounding released at 1600 from Miramar MCAS Airport, San Diego, California, 2 miles west of the accident site, indicated 7 to 12 knot wind speeds generally out of the northwest at altitudes from 2,000 ft to 8,500 ft.

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal 
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Passenger Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Fire: On-ground
Ground Injuries: N/A 
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude: 32.943332,-116.764442

The accident site was located within a valley on a hillside slope at an elevation about 775 ft msl, about 1,000 ft east of the last radar target. The primary wreckage consisted of a 4-ft-deep by 6-ft-wide crater, which contained fragmented engine and airframe components. (See figure 1.) The outboard left wingtip rib, along with shards of the red position light, were located about 14 ft west, with the corresponding right wingtip rib and green position light shards about the same distance to the east. The debris field continued about 75 ft downhill to the north, and contained the engine crankcase, instrument panel components, fragmented tubular airframe material, the crumpled steel remains of the tail section, and burnt composite structure.

Most of the airplane's composite structure was consumed by fire, except for about a dozen composite skin fragments, which were scattered in the surrounding trees and in the immediate vicinity of the impact site. The impact ignited a brush fire, which burned about 45 acres of land northeast of the accident site along the flank of the adjacent hillside.

A secondary debris field was located in a dry riverbed about 400 ft north of the crater. The debris was oriented east-west, about 800 ft long, and contained the left (lock side) and rear arch sections of the canopy frame, multiple pieces of canopy plexiglass material, and parts from the passenger's headset. No items in the secondary debris field, including the canopy components, displayed any indications of fire or bird strike.

Airframe and Engine Examination

The wreckage was recovered from the accident site and examined by the NTSB and technical representatives from Extra Flugzeugproduktions-Und and Lycoming Engines. A complete report is included in the public docket; the following is a summary of findings.

The identifiable components were separated and organized into their respective subsystems for examination. Except for the tail, all steel airframe tubing members were fragmented and deformed into sizes varying from 3 to 24 inches. Additionally, all composite components that had not been ejected from the impact site (skin sections, cockpit instruments, tailwheel assembly) were consumed by fire.

Remnants of all flight control surfaces and their corresponding primary aerodynamic load structures were located, and no bird remnants or feathers were found.

The left and right rudder cables were continuous from the aft rudder pedal assembly to the base of the rudder. Forward of the aft rudder pedals, the cables had separated into multiple pieces with the fragmented airframe structure. The left cable remained attached to the control arm at the base of the rudder; the right cable had detached from the right arm, which had melted at the cable attach point. There were no indications of cable degradation or separation in the locations referenced in SAIB CE-12-01.

The primary components of the elevator and aileron control system sustained extensive fragmentation throughout. All located bellcranks, control tube fittings, hinges, and wing spades sustained varying degrees of bending damage consistent with impact overload.

Most of the wing primary structure and fuel tanks were consumed by fire. The left and right main spar attachment flanges remained partially attached to the fragmented airframe members, and both main wing bolts and flange bushings were in place. Burnt remnants of the wing spar were still sandwiched between their respective spar attachment flange assemblies.

Both the front and rear main seatbelt latches were accounted for in the wreckage, along with both supplementary lap belt ratchets. Both systems were in the belt-locked position. Eight of the seatbelt mount points were located; all remained firmly bolted to their respective airframe members. Remnants of both parachutes were found, including their associated D-rings, "pilot" springs, and the locking buckles, all of which remained in the latched configuration.

All avionics and instruments sustained extensive crush and/or fire damage, preventing an accurate assessment of their settings and indications at impact.

The four rear seat assembly adjustment pins were all located in their respective seat fixtures. The front seat was fixed.

Examination of the left side of the canopy frame, including the lock and lock pin assembly, rear arch, and shattered plexiglass canopy fragments located in the secondary debris field revealed that the forward and aft canopy lock handles were intact and their interconnecting rods were bent, resulting in indeterminate lock positions.

All canopy hinge and lock sleeve assemblies were accounted for in the main impact crater and immediate surrounding area. The canopy hinge pins and their corresponding barrels and lock sleeves sustained varying degrees of bending damage.

The engine was separated from the airframe and sustained significant impact damage, liberating most of its ancillary components, including the starter motor, governor, alternator, fuel injection servo, both magnetos, and all but one push rod. The cylinder heads from cylinder Nos. 1 and 2 had detached from their respective barrels, which were both bent aft. The oil sump had fragmented, exposing the lower engine crankcase and bottom half of the oil dipstick, which was bent aft. The accessory case had broken away, revealing the crankshaft, camshaft, and idler gears, and the forward crankcase had been breached, exposing the governor drive gears. There was no indication of pre-impact catastrophic internal engine failure.

The top spark plugs from cylinder Nos. 4, 5, and 6, and the bottom plugs for cylinder Nos. 3, 5, and 6 were removed and examined. All spark plug electrodes exhibited normal to worn out-normal wear signatures when compared to the Champion AV-27 Check-A-Plug chart.

Visual inspection of the combustion chambers for cylinder Nos. 3, 4, 5, and 6 was accomplished through the spark plug bores utilizing a borescope; there was no evidence of catastrophic internal damage and all combustion surfaces exhibited dark grey deposits.

The propeller hub remained attached to the crankshaft. All blades had separated, with only partial remnants of splintered wood and twisted leading edge caps recovered.

Additional Information

The president of SCA stated that he had considered operating under Part 91.147, but it was his understanding that under that provision, the passengers would not be able to operate the controls. He specifically stated that after discussing it with the FAA, he felt it would be like operating with a "mini" Part 135 certificate.

The provisions of 14 CFR 91.147, "Passenger Carrying Flights for Compensation or Hire" allow for an operator to carry passengers for hire without a Part 135 or 121 certificate provided that the flights begin and end at the same airport and are conducted within a 25-statute-mile radius of that airport. In order to be granted the authority to operate under this provision, the operator must apply for, be granted, and abide by a letter of authorization (LOA) from the closest FAA FSDO. The operator must also register and implement a drug and alcohol testing program and follow a basic set of safety rules defined in 14 CFR 136 Subpart A "National Air Tour Safety Standards."

FAA Order 1800.56 also provides FAA inspectors with surveillance guidelines for Part 91.147 operations. It requires inspection of 10% of those air tour operators that have an LOA within the region. One inspection must be for maintenance and another for avionics; there are no provisions for operations inspections.

Common Carriage

FAA Advisory Circular (AC) 120-12A, "Private Carriage Versus Common Carriage of Persons or Property" was issued by the FAA in 1986. The AC stated that its purpose was to provide guidelines for determining whether transportation operations by air constitute private or common carriage. The AC further stated that operations that constitute common carriage are required to be conducted under 14 CFR Parts 121 or 135.

According to the AC, "common carriage" and "private carriage" are common law terms, and the FAA Act of 1958 uses the term "common carriage" without defining it, therefore, the AC provided the following guidelines:

A carrier becomes a common carrier when it "holds itself out" to the public, or to a segment of the public, as willing to furnish transportation within the limits of its facilities to any person who wants it....There are four elements in defining a common carrier; (1) a holding out of a willingness to (2) transport persons or property (3) from place to place (4) for compensation. This "holding out" which makes a person or company a common carrier can be done in any one of several different ways, including:

Signs and advertising are the most direct means of "holding out" but are not the only ones.

A "holding out" may be accomplished through the actions of agents, agencies, or salesmen who may, themselves, procure passenger traffic from the general public and collect them into groups to be carried by the operator. It is particularly important to determine if such agents or salesman are in the business of selling transportation to the travelling public not only through the "group" approach but also by individual ticketing on known common carriers....

Although AC 120-12A defines a common carrier, the applicability section of 14 CFR Part 119.1e excludes both student instruction and nonstop commercial air tours conducted under Part 91.147 from the need to conform with the requirements for air carriers (Part 121) or operators for compensation or hire (Part 135).

Medical and Pathological Information

An autopsy was performed on both occupants by the San Diego County Medical Examiners Department. The cause of death for both was reported as multiple blunt force injuries. The reports indicated extensive fragmentation and charring.

Due to the condition of the remains, all of which were located in and around the crater in the primary debris field, it was not possible to confirm or eliminate preexisting natural diseases or injuries that occurred prior to the accident. Additionally, no samples definitively attributed to the pilot were available for toxicological testing, and only limited samples were available from the passenger.

Toxicology testing performed at the FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory on specimens from the passenger. The results were negative for all screened drug substances with the following results for volatiles:

-66 (mg/dL, mg/hg) Ethanol detected in Muscle
-N-Butanol detected in Muscle
-Propanol (N-) detected in Muscle
Ethanol is the intoxicant in beer, wine, and liquor, but it can also be produced in postmortem tissues by bacterial action. How much, if any, of the identified ethanol had been ingested could not be determined.

Tests and Research

Radar Data

Due to the sample rate of the radar data relative to the airplane's rapid aerobatic movements, accurate interpolation of the final stages of the flight could not be achieved. The radar data revealed the flight path of the passing motor glider, along with an aircraft that circled the location of the wreckage and fire shortly after the accident.

Onboard Video Cameras

The airplane was equipped with three video cameras mounted throughout the cabin. SCA used the cameras to record the flights, and sold the compiled footage to the passengers.

A Garmin VIRB Elite, which was capable of recording GPS track data and audio from the airplane's intercom system, was mounted on the right side of the center instrument panel divider, facing forward over the right shoulder of the passenger. It was discovered in the main wreckage and had sustained thermal damage. The camera was sent to the NTSB Recorders Division for data extraction; however, the
internal microSD memory card, which stored the recorded data, had sustained crush damage and was unreadable. Subsequent evaluation with an acoustic microscope revealed cracks that had penetrated into the card's silicon die.

A GoPro camera had been mounted on the left side of the center instrument panel divider, facing outboard toward the left wing. This camera was not located, and presumed to have been destroyed on impact.

An aft-facing GoPro Hero camera had been mounted to the lower front section of the canopy. The camera mount was found attached to fragments of the canopy plexiglass in the secondary debris field, and the camera was ultimately located 2 years after the accident in the area between the main impact crater and the debris field.

The recovered camera was sent to the NTSB Vehicle Recorders Division for data extraction, and a video group convened which included the NTSB investigator-in-charge, NTSB engineering and technical specialists, and the Chief Pilot from Extra USA.

The unit had recorded video and audio data of the entire flight, from the time shortly after the passenger boarded to the camera's separation from the airplane and its impact with the ground. The camera recorded ambient cabin audio, and was not connected to the radio or intercom.

The camera was mounted on the centerline of the airplane, facing the front seat, and had a view of the passenger's upper body and head. The upper 2/3 quadrant of the camera frame had a clear view outside of the canopy, and intermittent and distorted reflections of the pilot's head could be seen in the canopy throughout the flight. The forward canopy lock and outboard tips of the horizontal stabilizer were visible.

With the canopy open, the camera had a view of the inboard section of the right wing and aileron, the vertical and horizontal stabilizer, and the pilot in the aft seat. When the recording began, the airplane was on the ground with the canopy open, and although the passenger was out of frame, comments from the pilot indicated that he was already seated. The pilot could be seen securing himself with both the main belt harness and the supplemental lap ratchet.

As the canopy came down, the passenger came in to view. His seatbelt shoulder adjusting strap was fully extended, such that the seatbelt harness was loose around his shoulders and chest. The passenger's headphones were equipped with a Velcro chin strap, which was not secured, and remained unsecured for the entire flight.

The engine start, run-up, taxi, and departure proceeded without any indication of anomalies, and the aerobatic maneuvers began about 6 1/2 minutes after takeoff. The maneuvers continued for about 7 minutes, during which the airplane performed what appeared to be a series of roll, hammerhead, and tailslide maneuvers. The passenger appeared to be manipulating the control stick during some of the maneuvers, while the pilot either lifted both of his hands free of the control stick, or rested them on the top of the center instrument console. The maneuvers were all initiated at similar altitudes, and on multiple occasions the passenger looked outside of the airplane in a manner consistent with scanning for traffic.

After the pilot completed what appeared to be a tumble maneuver, he could be heard saying, "how's that?" to which the passenger replied, "that was awesome." Over the next 50 seconds, the airplane regained altitude in a series of climbing turns ending in level flight.

At this time, the passenger was not holding the flight controls and appeared to be bracing his arms against the sides of the airframe. The nose of the airplane then pitched up to 45°, and the airplane rolled 90° to the right. The nose began to drop as the roll continued to about 130°, then the direction of roll suddenly reversed, the pilot made a "whooping" sound, and the airplane transitioned into what appeared to be an inverted spin. The passenger appeared to rise up in his seat, and reached up with his right arm up to secure the headphones which were pulling away from his head.

The nose of the airplane then dropped as the spin progressed. After about one revolution, the right wing dropped, and the direction of rotation reversed. After entry into the reversal, the rate of rotation began to increase, and only the sky was visible through the canopy. The wind noise began to increase markedly, and a gap appeared at the right-side canopy frame junction with the fuselage, which is consistent with the airplane approaching Vne. The passenger began to rock from side to side while forced up against his shoulder straps as the sun came into view on the left side. The sun transitioned to the right side while the rocking movement continued. During the final maneuver the passenger was smiling and made "yelping" sounds. However, the expression on the passenger's face then changed, and he looked down and reached forward with his right hand. The forward canopy release handle on the left side of the cabin (which was connected to the rear canopy release handle) then moved to the open position, and the canopy opened.

The camera was ejected, and continued to record as it descended toward the ground while rapidly spinning.

Because the camera was attached to the canopy, it began to move upwards as the canopy opened, pivoting around the canopy hinge on the right side of the cockpit. Frame-by-frame review revealed that as the canopy opened, the pilot came into view, and could be seen holding onto the aft canopy release handle with his left hand, while his right hand remained in the area of the control stick. The inboard sections of the ailerons were visible, along with the leading edge of the horizontal stabilizer, the entire vertical stabilizer, and rudder. About 6 seconds after the canopy opened, the camera recorded what appeared to be an orange glow consistent with fire on the terrain below. The camera struck the ground 26 seconds after the canopy opened.

The video did not reveal any evidence of bird strike, fire, canopy failure, or flight control separation, and the passenger appeared to be conscious throughout the entire recording.

Sound spectrum analysis of the video's audio channel revealed that the engine was operating at a speed of 2,580 rpm before the canopy opened. The airplanes Pilot's Operating Handbook indicated an upper operating range of 2,700 rpm.

Organizational and Management Information

Company Operations

SCA provided flights to its passengers by operating as a flight school under the auspices of 14 CFR Part 61 and using flight instructors to provide training.

The company had three bases of operation: HND, SEE, and Minden-Tahoe Airport (MEV), Minden, Nevada. The primary operations facility was located at HND and included a hangar and co-located office. SCA's hangars at HND and SEE were equipped with a bar, dart boards, pool tables, and basketball hoops to support customers' group parties.

According to the SCA operations manual, "Standards and Syllabus," the "Top Gun" experience included g warm-up exercises, aileron rolls, barrel rolls, loops, hammerhead stalls, tail slides, spins, tumbles, and a low level bombing run, with optional maneuvers including the avalanche and inverted spins. The El Capitan Reservoir was the established area for performing maneuvers after departing from SEE.

Interviews with two pilots from SCA revealed that their flying varied based on seasonal loads, but they typically flew four to five customer missions per day, about 5 days per week. One pilot, who was initially the director of training and then director of flight operations, stated that, of about 2,000 customers he had flown for SCA, about 12 to 15 were pilots looking to receive targeted flight training for either upset recovery or a tailwheel endorsements. The other pilot stated that of the 500 customers he had flown, about 6 were pilots seeking tailwheel endorsement training and the others were customers seeking "experience" missions.

SCA Customer Training and Interaction

Upon arrival at an SCA facility, customers who had scheduled a flight experience were required to sign a "Participant Agreement Release and Assumption of Risk" waiver and take part in a briefing session. The waiver included, in part, the following statements:

I understand that I will be receiving general aerobatic and/or combat aviation flight instruction from a qualified flight instructor.

I understand that I will be given the opportunity to fly at various portions of the mission profile....

I expressly agree and promise to accept and assume all of the risks existing in this activity....

I confirm that I am in good health and am not aware of any preexisting conditions that could medically preclude me from safely participating in this activity.

The briefing session included a presentation of SCA operations, an overview of basic aircraft handling and flight controls, a safety briefing, and a review of the chosen flight profile. The presentation also discussed the use and operation of the parachute, along with how to egress and bailout from the airplane in the event of an emergency.

SCA Advertising

The company employed a director of marketing, who was hired about 6 months before the accident. She stated that the company used the services of a third-party public relations firm to coordinate advertising along with the services of multiple online travel and adventure, destination management, and event coordinating companies. She was not involved with any of the flight training activities but instead focused on the flight experience aspects of the operation and customer interaction. She stated that one of her recent focuses within the company was to try to bring in more customers through group bookings.

The majority of SCA's website was devoted to the flight experiences aspect of the operation, such as air combat and aerobatics, with a subsection for tailwheel and upset recovery training.

Review of the SCA presence on multiple social media platforms revealed that it both presented itself and was categorized in the "tour" category. The website's blog section included the comment, "Not for you? Ditch the tricks and enjoy one of our sightseeing tours, like our breathtaking Las Vegas Night Lights Tour, where we fly you and someone special over the neon lights of the Strip. We provide
complimentary transportation to and from the Strip for all aerobatic and sightseeing experiences, and we'll even throw in champagne for the night-flight option."

The Group section of the website stated, "Bring your Group to Sky Combat Ace - Corporate Events, Teambuilding, Birthdays, Retirements, Bachelor Parties & More....We can cater to groups from 6 to 125 passengers per day, with a combination of aerobatic flights, air-to-air dogfighting, low level bombing runs, as well as extreme sightseeing. We even offer Spectator flights for those that like their thrills right side up."

FAA Oversight

The president of SCA stated that, during the company's infancy, he had approached FAA Flight Standards District Offices (FSDOs) within the geographic areas in which he planned to operate to discuss certification options for the flights he intended to conduct. He said that he ruled out operating the company under a Part 135 certificate because passengers would not have been allowed to manipulate the aircraft controls. He had also considered operating under 14 CFR Part 91.147 (the regulation that applies to certain revenue passenger-carrying flights operated within 25 miles of an airport) but stated that, during his discussions with FAA personnel, an inspector had advised him that the passenger flight control prohibition also applied to Part 91.147.

The SCA president stated that he finally concluded that operating SCA flights as instructional flights under Part 61 would allow him to legally operate the business as he intended. He stated that he was aware of three other competitors that use a similar model, but, to his knowledge, two had gone out of business and the other had changed its focus exclusively to flight training.

The SCA president stated that, in 2015, after deciding to open the SEE location, he consulted with FAA personnel from the San Diego FSDO, who requested that the SCA website be more explicit regarding flight training. In response, SCA added the following disclaimer to the bottom of each website page:

"All SCA flights are instructional in nature conducted by certified flight instructors under 14 CFR Part 61 of the United States Code. Instruction will be provided during ground and flight portions for all flights." He stated that the same disclaimer was included in the customer waiver release form, which was required to be signed by all customers prior to flight.

FAA guidelines for its inspectors to perform oversight on Part 61 flight schools is outlined in FAA Order 1800.56, "National Flight Standards Work Program Guidelines." According to the order, FAA inspectors are required to conduct one inspection for each flight training device (FTD) located at each flight school and satellite school within the region that uses a Level 4 or 5 FTD in its flight training. At the time of the accident, SCA did not use any Level 4 or 5 FTDs.

Review of FAA records up to the accident date revealed three events related to SCA that resulted in FAA investigation:

In June 2015, the FAA Las Vegas FSDO was contacted by a Park Ranger from the Lake Mead National Recreation area. The Ranger had received complaints that an airplane operated by SCA (N330MT) had been flying low, "buzzing" kayakers on Lake Mead, and performing low-level aerobatic maneuvers in the vicinity of the Hoover Dam. A subsequent FAA investigation resulted in suspension of the pilot's
certificate for careless/reckless operation, the aerobatic operation of an airplane within the lateral boundaries of the surface areas of Las Vegas Class B airspace, and the aerobatic operation of an airplane below an altitude of 1,500 ft above the surface.

The president of SCA stated that the pilot involved in these incidents resigned shortly after having his certificate suspended and before the president had a chance to terminate his job at SCA. However, at the time of completion of this report, an undated post from the pilot extolling the virtues of aerobatic flight was still present in the blog section of SCA's website.

On January 28, 2016, after landing, the pilot of N466MD failed to notice a pedestrian on an uncontrolled section of the ramp at HND. The airplane struck the pedestrian, who sustained minor injuries after he attempted to get clear of the propeller. The FAA inspector who investigated the incident concluded that the pilot was likely acting carelessly and in violation of 14 CFR 91.13. The pilot was referred for ongoing safety awareness counselling.

On June 19, 2017, N414MT underwent a ramp inspection by an FAA inspector from the Reno FSDO. The inspector noted that SCA was not registered as an air tour operator, yet he had observed SCA flyers in the airport lobby that were advertising rides without any reference to flight instruction. He advised an SCA pilot of this finding and recommended that the pilot address this issue with SCA.

During the inspection, the inspector found permanent camera mount points had been installed on the upper surfaces of both wings and the horizontal stabilizer just forward of the control surfaces. There were no corresponding maintenance logbook entries related to the camera installations, or evidence that a record of a major repair or alteration (FAA Form 337) had been completed. Out of concern that such camera installations could potentially interfere with the flying characteristics or flight control surfaces, the inspector issued SCA a notification that the FAA would be exercising the authority of 49 CFR 44709(a) to perform a reinspection of all SCA aircraft to determine their airworthiness and certificate eligibility. An inspection of five airplanes operated by SCA was subsequently performed, and although some of the fleet lacked the required cabin placards, no significant anomalies were noted.

Previous SCA Accidents

Review of NTSB and SCA records indicated that SCA had experienced three reported and one unreported accident since October 2014. One of those accidents resulted in two fatalities. All involved Extra Flugzeugproduktions 300-series airplanes while flying paying passengers. These accidents are summarized below.

NTSB accident WPR15LA024: On October 26, 2014, an EA 300/L, N763DT, experienced an in-flight rudder cable separation after recovering from an aerobatic maneuver. During the emergency landing at McCarran International Airport (LAS), Las Vegas, Nevada, the airplane veered off the runway and sustained substantial damage.

The investigation revealed that FAA SAIB CE-12-01 had been issued about 3 years before the accident to address such a rudder cable failure. There was no evidence of compliance with the SAIB. The NTSB accident report noted that compliance with the SAIB was not mandatory, even though SCA operated flights for paying passengers, including aerobatics and air combat demonstrations. The NTSB
determined the probable cause of the accident was "the failure of the rudder cable due to tension overstress as a result of the cable's strength being compromised by wear damage, which resulted in the flight instructor's inability to maintain directional control during the landing roll."

NTSB accident WPR15LA034: On November 5, 2014, an EA 300/L, N369XT, experienced a loss of engine power while on final approach to HND. The airplane collided with terrain short of the runway and sustained substantial damage.

The investigation revealed that fuel was present in the center and left wing fuel tanks but that the right wing fuel tank was empty. No mechanical anomalies were observed, and the reason(s) for power loss were not determined.

NTSB accident WPR16FA097: On April 30, 2016, an EA 300/L, N330MT, was destroyed when it impacted terrain about 10 miles south of HND. The airline transport pilot and passenger were fatally injured, and the airplane was destroyed.

The investigation revealed that the passenger became airsick after the pilot conducted simulated air-to air combat maneuvers. The pilot then performed a planned low-level simulated bombing run during the return to the airport, during which time the airplane struck a hill. Toxicology testing of the pilot detected tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive component of marijuana.

The NTSB determined the probable cause of the accident was "the pilot's failure to monitor and maintain clearance with terrain while maneuvering at low level. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to conduct an adequate amount of clearing turns while maneuvering at low level." 

Additionally, SCA was involved in one accident that was not reported to the NTSB or FAA. In September 2016, an EA 300/L, N466MD, experienced a failure and near-total separation of the windshield during aerobatic maneuvers. A video of the event provided by SCA revealed that, while pulling out of the bottom of a loop, the pilot allowed the airplane to exceed its Vne speed (220 knots) and the canopy plexiglass fractured and separated from its frame. The pilot was able to fly the airplane back to the airport with most of the canopy missing.

The separation of the canopy adversely affected the performance and flight characteristics of the airplane, and, as such, met the definition of substantial damage; therefore, this event met the definition of an accident. Title 49 CFR Part 830.5 requires the operator of an aircraft involved in an accident to immediately notify the NTSB.

Company Policies and Operations Manual

According to the president of SCA, g-forces are limited to 6 g with passengers onboard, and airspeed is limited to 180 knots. The "Standards and Syllabus" stated that, in order to minimize wear and tear on the aircraft, all aerobatic flights would "strive" to remain at or under 6 g and that aerial dogfighting would be allowed up to 8 g.

The manual stated, "For SCA pilots, there is a special emphasis required to ensure that they are prepared for the rigors of aerobatic flight. SCA Management expects each pilot to get at least 10 hours of uninterrupted rest prior to flying."

SCA had no policy for routine drug screening and testing of its pilots, nor was it required to have such a policy.

Video Review

The president of SCA was also an active instructor for the company. He stated that, due to the quantity of video footage produced, he did not review every flight video but instead instructed the video editing team (who were composed of pilots and non-pilots) to bring to his attention any flight maneuvers or operations that could be considered a violation of company policy.

SCA provided to the NTSB video footage from the accident pilot's previous eight flights, along with the previous eight flights of the accident airplane. The footage from the accident pilot's flights was recorded from October 8 through 21. Two of the flights were for "dogfight" missions involving multiple aircraft, and the remaining six were solo missions in the area of the El Capitan Reservoir. The forward instrument panel, including the g-meter and airspeed indicator, was visible in the recordings.

The single-airplane flights typically followed a similar pattern, with the aerobatic maneuvers mostly performed over the north end of the reservoir (within the immediate vicinity of the accident site). Typically, at the completion of these maneuvers and just before returning to SEE, the pilot would ask the passenger if they were ready to experience some high-g maneuvers. The airplane would then begin a dive or series of spin maneuvers. The pilot would initiate the recovery, build up airspeed, and level the airplane as the ground approached. It was during these final phases that the highest airspeeds and vertical accelerations were reached.

During the final phase of three of those flights, the airplane reached 10 g and maximum speeds of 200 and 205 knots. On one flight, the airplane reached 9 g and 200 knots, and during another, the airplane reached 8.5 g and 190 knots. The pilot appeared conscious during the high-g maneuvers. Three of the passengers appeared to pass out during the high-g phases of those flights, with one passenger also passing out twice as the airplane taxied into the hangar at the completion of the mission. As the highest speeds were reached, gaps could be seen along the edge of the canopy frame at the join with the fuselage, with larger gaps on the right side.

The GPS data from the flights performed by the accident pilot over the El Capitan area during the period from October 8 through October 13, 2017, was compared to the radar data for the accident flight. The accident flight followed the same general path as the other flights. 

On October 17, another SCA pilot flew the accident airplane in series of "dogfight" missions with two other SCA Extra 300 series airplanes as part of a corporate group event in Florida. Video revealed that at the beginning of the flights, the g-meter limit needles had not been reset and indicated that the airplane had at some point reached 10.5 g. The vertical acceleration during those missions varied between 3 g and 6 g; however, on the final flight of the day, the pilot asked the passenger if she wanted to perform a
high-g turn and experience acceleration of 7 to 8 g's. She responded that she did not want to pass out, and the pilot gave her advice on how to prepare her body for the turn. He then performed a descending turning maneuver, during which the g meter registered 9 g, and the passenger passed out. The recovery was completed about 950 ft agl. The dogfight maneuvers between the airplanes were performed in
scattered cloud conditions at altitudes of between 1,500 and 3,500 ft agl, and on multiple occasions the accident airplane passed through clouds. As the other airplanes performed their final maneuvers, another pilot transmitted, "Oh yeah, 8 G's" over the common traffic advisory frequency.

The degree of passenger interaction with the flight controls varied, with some holding the controls through most of the flight, some touching the controls intermittently, and some showing hesitancy to interact in any form. None of the passengers in the reviewed videos held FAA pilot or medical certificates.

 

NTSB Identification: WPR18FA013
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, October 21, 2017 in Four Corners, CA
Aircraft: EXTRA FLUGZEUGPRODUKTIONS-UND EA 300/L, registration: N414MT
Injuries: 2 Fatal.

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 either traveled in support of this investigation or conducted a significant amount of investigative work without any travel, and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

On October 21, 2017, at 1611 Pacific daylight time, an Extra Flugzeugproduktions-Und EA 300/L, N414MT (Callsign Ace 5), collided with terrain within the watershed of the El Capitan Reservoir, near Four Corners, California. The flight instructor and passenger sustained fatal injuries and the airplane was destroyed. The airplane was registered to KD Leasing LLC., and operated by California Extreme Adventures LLC. (doing business as Sky Combat Ace), under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The local instructional flight departed Gillespie Field Airport, San Diego/El Cajon at 1557. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.

The operator's website described itself as an "extreme aviation attraction," providing a series of aviation related "experiences", including aerobatics, air combat, and flight training. The passenger had signed up for the 25-minute-long, "Top Gun" experience, which according to their website was a flight which included, "Advanced Aerobatics", "Basic Aerobatics", a "Low Level Bombing Run", "You Fly Maneuvers", and "You Fly Departure".

Preliminary radar data provided by the FAA indicated a target initiating a climbing left turn after departing from runway 17, and reaching a mode C reported altitude of about 4,700 ft mean sea level (msl), 5 miles northeast of the airport. For the next 10 minutes, the target followed a track along the general path of the San Diego River, then east of the El Capitan Reservoir, and north towards the town of Four Corners. The track followed a meandering path at varying airspeeds and altitudes ranging between 4,500 and 7,100 ft in a manner consistent with aerobatic maneuvers, and multiple witnesses along the route indicated seeing an airplane performing aerobatic-like maneuvers about that time.

At 1610 the target had reached its farthest point from the airport, just north of the reservoir. It then began to track back to the southwest, climbing from 5,000 ft to 6,900 ft over the next 90 seconds. About 15 seconds later, the last target was recorded just to the southeast at an altitude of 4,500 ft.

The accident site was located within the river valley, on a hillside slope at an elevation of about 775 ft, about 1,000 ft east of the last radar target. The primary wreckage consisted of a 4-ft-deep by 6-ft-wide crater which contained fragmented engine and airframe components. The outboard left wingtip rib, along with shards of the red position lamp were located about 14 ft west, with the corresponding right wingtip rib and green position lamp shards about the same distance to the east. The debris field continued about 75 ft downhill to the north, and contained the engine crankcase, instrument panel components, fragmented tubular airframe material, the crumpled tubular steel remains of the tail section, and burnt composite structure.

Most of the airplane's structure was consumed by fire, except for the right rear section of the canopy frame and about a dozen composite skin fragments which were interspersed in the surrounding trees and immediate vicinity of the impact site. The impact ignited a brushfire, which burnt about 45 acres of land northeast of the accident site along the flank of the adjacent hillside.

A secondary debris field was located in the dry river bed about 400 ft north of the crater. The debris was oriented east-west, about 800 ft long, and contained the left (lock side) and rear sections of the canopy frame, multiple pieces of canopy plexiglass material, and a fragmented headset. Neither the debris field, nor the canopy components displayed any indications of fire.


Peter Casey Gillcrist 
July 19, 1963 - October 21, 2017 


Paul Garrett Engler
September 1, 1983 - October 21, 2017


A passenger who was one of two people killed in a plane crash at the El Capitan Reservoir last month signed up for a "Top Gun" experience before the crash, according to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

Paul Garrett Engler and pilot Peter Gillcrist died when a small plane crashed near the El Capitan Reservoir on October 21, according to a spokesperson for the pilot's employer.

The crash sparked a 45-acre brush fire. 

In its preliminary report, the NTSB said the website for the operator California Extreme Adventures LLC, which was doing business as "Sky Combat Ace," described itself as an "extreme aviation attraction."

"'The passenger [Paul Garrett Engler] had signed up for a 25-minute long 'Top Gun' experience, which, according to its website was a flight which included 'Advanced Acrobatics,'" the NTSB wrote in its preliminary report.

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) radar data showed the plane reached an altitude of 4,700 feet and followed a track along the general path of the San Diego River. It then went East of the El Capitan Reservoir, towards the town of Four Corners.

"The track followed a meandering path at varying airspeeds and altitudes ranging between 4,500 and 7,100 feet in a manner consistent with aerobatic maneuvers," the NTSB wrote.

Witnesses told NTSB they saw the plane performing "aerobatic-like" maneuvers before crashing.

Sky Combat Ace operates out of Henderson, Nevada, but has a location out of Gillespie Field, which is where the plane was headed Saturday.

Megan Fazio, a spokesperson for Sky Combat Ace told NBC 7 there were no distress calls before the accident.

"We are devastated and extend our heartfelt sympathy to the families and to our SCA team members who have lost a beloved colleague and pilot," she said in a written statement.

The wreckage was in a remote area near the El Capitan Reservoir and was not accessible to ground crews.

Gillcrist, known as "Bandito" in the air, taught competitive aerobatics, emergency maneuver training, and spin training, according to the company. His mother was an aviation physiologist, his father was a Navy pilot and his wife is a pilot for Southwest Airlines.

Gillcrist will be laid to rest in Rancho Santa Fe on Saturday, according to his obituary page.

Engler, a Texas native, was a father of two, according to his obituary. He was laid to rest on Nov. 14.


https://www.nbcsandiego.com




The two people killed in a plane crash near El Capitan Reservoir on Saturday were on a paid flight experience from a company that offers adrenaline-fueled rides for adventure seekers.

A spokeswoman for Sky Combat Ace identified the victims as Peter Gillcrist, one of the company’s pilots, and Garrett Engler.

“We would like to express our deepest condolences to the families who have lost loved ones and have been affected by this unfortunate accident,” said spokeswoman Megan Fazio in a statement. “We are devastated and extend our heartfelt sympathy to the families and to our (Sky Combat Ace) team members who have lost a beloved colleague and pilot.”

The EXTRA EA 300 plane took off from Gillespie Field about 3:50 p.m. When it failed to return, Sky Combat Ace employees notified air traffic control.

Sheriff’s and California Highway Patrol officials said 911 callers in the Lakeside area reported a possible crash east of El Monte Road about 4:20 p.m. The impact sparked a fire that charred 20 acres.

Debris from the crash was located about an hour later.

“To our knowledge, there were no distress calls made prior to the accident,” Fazio said.

Sky Combat Ace, which operates out of Las Vegas and San Diego, sells a variety of flight packages that include aerobatic and simulated “air combat” experiences.

“You’re not just a passenger on a joy ride. You are a steely-eyed fighter pilot at the controls of your very own ‘fighter jet,’ pulling Gs and squeezing the trigger to ‘get the kill,’ ” the company’s website reads.

It’s unclear which experience Engler had purchased or who was flying the plane at the time. Some flight packages allow the student to control the aircraft.

The aircraft, which was built in 2009, had up-to-date certification and was categorized for normal and acrobatic flights, federal records show.

The company said on its website that safety is its No. 1 priority, and stressed that the planes are expertly engineered and that pilots go through rigorous training. It also said that “air combat and low-level flying comes with an inherent amount of risk that cannot be entirely eliminated without jeopardizing the inherent nature of the experience.”

Gillcrist is the chief pilot for Sky Combat Ace’s San Diego location, according to the company’s website. After graduating from the University of Virginia, he worked at Lockheed Martin with the Skunk Works, an experimental engineering group that develops aircraft and associated technologies.

He later taught competitive aerobatics, emergency maneuver training and spin training.

A similar fatal crash involving the same company occurred in April 2016.

In that incident, a student passenger and an instructor pilot were performing “air combat” maneuvers when they crashed near Las Vegas. Fazio said the passenger had paid for the “Sky Combat” experience offered by the company, and that the crash happened as they were returning to the hangar.

The “Sky Combat” package allows the participant to fly the plane while the pilot teaches “air-to-air combat” techniques. It’s unclear who had control of the aircraft when it crashed, Fazio said at the time.

The National Transportation Safety Board is continuing to investigate Saturday’s crash.


http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com

A pilot and his passenger died when a small plane crashed near the El Capitan Reservoir Saturday afternoon, according to a spokesperson for the pilot's employer.

The victims were identified Monday as pilot Peter Gillcrist and passenger Garrett Engler, according to Sky Combat Ace spokesperson Megan Fazio. 

The men died after their plane crashed around 4:15 p.m. Saturday, sparking a 20-acre brush fire.

The National Transportation Safety Board identified the wreckage as a Extra EA 300/L.

Fazio said the plane was registered to KD Leasing and operated by California Extreme Adventures. 

Sky Combat Ace operates out of Henderson, Nevada, but has a location out of Gillespie Field, which is where the plane was headed Saturday. 

"To our knowledge, there were no distress calls made prior to the accident," Fazio said. 

The wreckage is in a remote area near the El Capitan Reservoir and was not accessible to ground crews Saturday.

Gillcrist, known as "Bandito" in the air, taught competitive aerobatics, emergency maneuver training, and spin training, according to the company. His mother was an aviation physiologist, his father was a Navy pilot and his wife is a pilot for Southwest Airlines.

The NTSB and Federal Aviation Administration have now taken over the investigation with the NTSB in the lead.

Sky Combat Ace locations are closed until further notice, Fazio said. 

"We are devastated and extend our heartfelt sympathy to the families and to our SCA team members who have lost a beloved colleague and pilot," she said in a written statement.


http://www.nbcsandiego.com

SAN DIEGO (NEWS 8) — New information emerged Sunday about a plane crash that sparked a brush fire in the East County. 

It happened around 4:15 p.m. on Saturday near the El Capitan Reservoir in Lakeside. 

But the crash site was difficult for crews to access. 

Firefighters brought in heavy equipment Sunday to access the wreckage of the Extra EA-300 plane.   

A spokesperson for the US Forestry Service called the crash "unsurvivable."   

The fire sparked by the crash burned 15 to 20 acres and it took several hours to get under control through a series of aerial drops and ground efforts.   

By Sunday, lines of retardant marked the hillside.   

An investigator with the NTSB arrived on scene Sunday to start the process of figuring out what went wrong.  

Federal records show the plane's tail number, given to News 8 by the NTSB, is registered to KD Leasing in Henderson, Nevada.   

It appears frequently on the website of Sky Combat Ace, a company that operates out of the Las Vegas area and Gillespie Field, offering thrill seekers the chance to ride as a passenger or even perform their own aerobatic stunts from the pilot's seat.   

There are several videos online showing this same plane in action over Las Vegas and the East County.   

Residents say they often see pilots performing stunts near the reservoir.   

So far investigators aren't saying how many people were on board, but the manufacturer says the plane is typically equipped with two seats.   

News 8 reached out to Sky Combat Ace's headquarters in Las Vegas, but no one answered the phone.   

On its website, the company says "safety has always been the #1 priority at SCA."


Story and video:  http://www.thecwsandiego.com




LAKESIDE (CNS) - Firefighters put out a small fire north of the El Capitan Reservoir in Lakeside and sheriff's deputies were securing the scene where a small plane crashed, authorities said Sunday.

The fire was first reported at 4:18 p.m. Saturday as the result of a possible plane crash, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The blaze was estimated at 20 acres by nightfall with its forward progress stopped, sheriff's officials said.

The flames were out and deputies were securing the scene until officials from the National Transportation Safety Board arrive to begin their investigation, sheriff's officials said.

The Federal Aviation Administration reported an EXTRA EA 300 plane with two people on board was missing after taking off from Gillespie Field in El Cajon, according to the San Diego Union Tribune.

Allen Kenitzer from the FAA Office of Communications gave the following statement to New 8 regarding the plane crash:

There was an aircraft accident Saturday at the North end of the El Capitan reservoir.  The aircraft registration and type is unknown at this time.  The number of people onboard also cannot be confirmed at this time. The FAA and the NTSB will investigate.


Story and video ➤  http://www.cbs8.com




A small plane crashed at the base of a remote hill near El Capitan Reservoir Saturday, presumably killing those onboard as no survivors were found, authorities said. 

The crash sparked a brush fire that had grown to about 20 acres shortly after nightfall.


Officials were not able to confirm what aircraft was down, but a Federal Aviation Administration spokesman said the agency got a report of an EXTRA EA 300 plane with two people onboard missing from a local flight from Gillespie Field in El Cajon.


Sheriff’s and California Highway Patrol officials said 911 callers in the Lakeside area reported the possible crash east of El Monte Road about 4:20 p.m.


Some callers said they didn’t see the crash, but heard what they thought was an impact, then saw a fire.


Deputies headed that way and a sheriff’s helicopter scanned the area, finding the fire but no confirmation of a plane crash, sheriff’s Lt. Mario Zermeno said.


Authorities said they couldn’t get close to verify the possible wreckage while air crews were dropping retardant and water on the fire. It was about 7 p.m. before the debris was confirmed that of a plane, with few parts identifiable.


About 5:20 p.m., a Cal Fire air tanker crew working on the blaze reported seeing some type of debris in the area, Zermeno said.


U.S. Forest Service fire crews worked the blaze on the ground, as it was within the boundaries of the Cleveland National Forest east of the reservoir. The area is known as Four Corners.


The fire burned about 20 acres, forest service spokeswoman Wende Cornelius said.


Footage from News 8 showed the smokey fire at the base of steep, rugged hills, with air tankers and helicopters dropping water and fire retardant on the flames while it was still daylight.


According to Wikipedia, an EXTRA EA 300 is an aerobatic plane, usually a two-seater, built by Extra Flugzeugbau.


Original article  ➤ http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com


SAN DIEGO -- A plane crashed near the El Capitan Reservoir in Lakeside Saturday afternoon, sparking a brush fire.

The crash happened sometime after 4 p.m., according to Wende Cornelius, a spokesperson for Cleveland National Forest. Cornelius described the crash as "non-survivable."

Officials have not confirmed the type of aircraft that went down or how many people were onboard, but Allen Kenitzer, a Federal Aviation Administration spokesperson, said an EXTRA EA300 plane with two people onboard was reported missing from a local flight from Gillespie Field in El Cajon around 6:30 p.m.

The blaze, estimated to be 45 acres, was northeast of the reservoir.

No homes or structures were threatened by the fire.

Crews from Cal Fire, the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department and the Barona Fire Department were assisting the Cleveland National Forest in responding to the blaze.

Story and video ➤  http://fox5sandiego.com



A small plane has crashed into a hillside just east of the El Capitan Reservoir.

A Cleveland National Park spokesperson says the crash started a brush fire that had burned 30 acres by 8 p.m.

Ground fire crews are working to reach the site but they say it is very isolated.

Air tankers and helicopters are attacking the blaze from the air.

Authorities working on the crash include Cleveland National Fire, Calfire and two strike teams from San Diego Fire.

Allen Kenitzer, a spokesperson for the FAA told 10News "the aircraft registration and type is unknown at this time.  The number of people onboard also cannot be confirmed at this time."

He said the plane may have been flying from Gillespie Field in El Cajon, but all information was preliminary. The FAA and NTSB are investigating.

Original article can be found here ➤ http://www.10news.com