Flabob Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Rubidoux, California 92509
Sunday, February 23, 1997 9:10 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

On final approach to the airport, the pilot was attempting a crosswind landing. The pilot said the winds changed momentarily and he reduced the crosswind correction, and then was struck by a gust of wind. He applied full rudder, continued to drift downwind, and then he applied power, but hit a boundary chain link fence. Witnesses reported that the aircraft was attempting a crosswind landing, and it appeared that the aircraft was coming in too fast and had full power. The witnesses saw the aircraft bounce, and further said that 'the pilot over corrected in his attempt to regain control of the aircraft.' An off-duty FAA operation's inspector, who was present a few minutes after the accident, reported that the winds were variable from 330 to 020 gusting to 25 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's inadequate compensation for the existing gusty crosswind condition, and his failure to maintain runway alignment. The gusty crosswind was a related factor.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/23/1997
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 910
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City RUBIDOUX
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 92509
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport FLABOB
Event Location Nearest Airport ID RIR
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 764
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 846 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 41
Weather Observation Facility ID RAL
Elevation of weather observation facility 816
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 3
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 18000
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) 60
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 20
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 706
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Feb 23 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 948
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:08PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N84486
NTSB Number LAX97LA106
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 Aeronca
Aircraft Model 7AC
Aircraft Series Identifier 7AC
Aircraft Serial Number 7AC-3186
Certified Max Gross Weight 1220
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 Oct 4 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 73
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MURPHEY LAW OFFICES
Aircraft Owner Street Address 701 PALOMAR AIRPORT RD. ST 260
Aircraft Owner City CARLSBAD
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 92009
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name JOHN J. MURPHEY
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 5180 DON RODOLFO DRIVE
Operator City CARLSBAD
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 92008
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 No
Departure Airport Code CRQ
Departure City CARLSBAD
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 830
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code RIR
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
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 3200
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --