Holiday Valley Ranch Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Apple Valley, California 92307
Saturday, June 18, 1994 14:30 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT AND A PASSENGER DEPARTED ON A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT UTILIZING A SHORT FIELD TAKEOFF TECHNIQUE FROM A DIRT AIRSTRIP AT A DENSITY ALTITUDE COMPUTED AT 6,200 FEET. THE AIRSTRIP IS LOCATED AT 3,200 FEET MEAN SEA LEVEL. AFTER LIFT-OFF, THE AIRPLANE CLIMBED TO ABOUT 40 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND AND THEN SUDDENLY DESCENDED TO THE GROUND. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A FENCE AND AN EARTH COMPACTING MACHINE. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE ENCOUNTERED A DOWNDRAFT OR WINDSHEAR CONDITION.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed in the takeoff initial climb and the resultant inadvertent entry into a stall/mush condition. High density altitude and downdraft conditions were factors in the accident.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/18/1994
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1430
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City APPLE VALLEY
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 92307
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport HOLIDAY VALLEY RANCH
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 60
Airport Elevation 3200
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 34
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 60
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Light and Variable
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 6000
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 669
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 18 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1523
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 11:29AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4553R
NTSB Number LAX94LA258
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name GRUMMAN
Aircraft Model AA-5B
Aircraft Series Identifier AA-5B
Aircraft Serial Number 1207
Certified Max Gross Weight 2400
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 21 1993 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 28
Airframe Hours 813
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name NEIL MC LEAN
Aircraft Owner Street Address 653 E. RAMSEY
Aircraft Owner City BANNING
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 92220
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name NEIL MC LEAN
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 653 E. RAMSEY
Operator City BANNING
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 92220
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1430
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code BNG
Destination City BANNING
Destination State CA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 6
Runway Length 3000
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --