The National Transportation Safety Board traveled to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Riverside, California
Location: Lucerne Valley, California
Accident Number: WPR22FA195
Date and Time: June 2, 2022, 11:30 Local
Registration: N6366M
Aircraft: MEYER FRED J HORNET
Injuries: 1 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
On June 2, 2022, about 1130 Pacific daylight time, a Fred Meyer 360 Hornet, N6366M, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Lucerne Valley, California. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
According to witnesses, the pilot departed Big Bear Lake City Airport (L35) about 1115 for a local aerobatic flight. About 1130, three witnesses about 0.6 nautical miles southwest of the accident site, reported that prior to impact, the airplane went into a steep decent with level wings and disappeared from their view behind a 60 ft tree. Shortly after, the witnesses heard a loud “thud” and immediately
called 911.
The airplane impacted a dirt field within a residential property 10 nautical miles north of L35 at an elevation of 3,000 ft mean sea level. The wreckage debris path was about 200 ft long and oriented on a magnetic heading of 280°.
The airplane came to rest on top of a chain linked fence on a magnetic heading of about 360°. The first point of impact (FPI) was a 10 ft long, 6 ft wide and 2 feet deep crater. The FPI contained pieces of the right wing, right aileron, wooden propellers, and fuel lines. Ground scars at the accident site and damage to the airplane were consistent with the airplane impacting terrain in a steep, nose and right-wing low attitude. Fuel odor was present and consistent with 100LL. All major structural components of the airplane were located within the debris field.
The airplane and engine were recovered to a secure facility for further examination.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: MEYER FRED J
Registration: N6366M
Model/Series: HORNET
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built:
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Designator Code:
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: VMC
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KL35,6749 ft msl
Observation Time: 11:15 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 10 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 20°C /-3°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 6 knots / , 270°
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility: 10 miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.14 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Big Bear Lake, CA (L35)
Destination: Lucerne Valley, CA
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries:
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries:
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude: 34.431885,-116.86114 (est)
Experimental aircraft crashed under unknown circumstances.
Date: 02-JUN-22
Time: 18:37:00Z
Regis#: N6366M
Aircraft Make: EXPERIMENTAL
Aircraft Model: HORNET
Event Type: ACCIDENT
Highest Injury: FATAL
Total Fatal: 1
Flight Crew: 1 fatal
Pax: 0
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: EN ROUTE (ENR)
Operation: 91
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: SUBSTANTIAL
City: SAN BERNARDINO
State: CALIFORNIA
Those who may have information that might be relevant to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation may contact them by email witness@ntsb.gov, and any friends and family who want to contact investigators about the accident should email assistance@ntsb.gov. You can also call the NTSB Response Operations Center at 844-373-9922 or 202-314-6290.
A pilot from Big Bear died when his aircraft crashed Thursday in an area south of Highway 247 in Lucerne Valley.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner’s Division identified the pilot as 66-year-old Thorne “Butch” Lee Waymire, who was piloting a privately-owned Meyer Fred Hornet single-seat acrobatic plane.
The crash was reported to sheriff’s officials at 11:35 a.m. on Thursday on property in the 36000 block of Harvest Moon Street in Lucerne Valley.
The investigation was conducted by SBC Sheriff’s Aviation, the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board.
Authorities reported that the pilot was the only person aboard the aircraft. They did not disclose Waymire’s flightpath or the reason the plane crashed.
Waymire had retired in 2020, after 35 years with American.
ReplyDeleteHe was 777 captain.