Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Oasis, California 92274
Wednesday, December 14, 1994 16:20 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE COMMERCIAL PILOT AND PASSENGER WENT ON A SIGHTSEEING FLIGHT. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, AFTER FLYING FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES HE TURNED AWAY FROM LOW ELEVATION TERRAIN AND BEGAN FLYING 'LENGTHWISE OVER A PICTURESQUE CANYON.' THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AS THE ELEVATION OF THE TERRAIN INCREASED, HE APPLIED FULL ENGINE POWER AND BEGAN MANEUVERING AT THE BEST ANGLE OF CLIMB AIRSPEED. THE PILOT INDICATED THAT HE WAS NOT ABLE TO CLIMB OVER THE RISING TERRAIN. THE AIRPLANE CRASHED INTO THE BOX CANYON. NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WERE EXPERIENCED DURING THE FLIGHT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's improper inflight decision by selecting an inadequate terrain clearance altitude over mountainous terrain.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/14/1994
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1620
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City OASIS
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 92274
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
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 25000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 40
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1925
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 15 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1228
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 12:45PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6236L
NTSB Number LAX95LA051
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name AMERICAN
Aircraft Model AA-1
Aircraft Series Identifier AA-1
Aircraft Serial Number 436
Certified Max Gross Weight 1500
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 4 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 45
Airframe Hours 1919
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MILLARD & NATHAN CARRIKER
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1917 SANTA ROSA
Aircraft Owner City ST. CHARLES
Aircraft Owner State MO
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 63303
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name NATHAN CARRIKER
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 69455 SALEM ROAD
Operator City CATHEDRAL CITY
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 92234
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 Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code PSP
Departure City PALM SPRINGS
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1535
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --