Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Rio Linda, California 95673
Sunday, March 7, 1993 13:45 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE REGISTERED ULTRALIGHT AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED A DOWNDRAFT SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTING A GRASS FIELD. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE AIRCRAFT, BUT WITHOUT SUCCESS. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE TREES AS IT CONTINUED IN A SOUTHERLY DIRECTION. THE PILOT REPORTED THE ENGINE WAS OPERATING NORMALLY AND THAT THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT EXPERIENCE ANY PREIMPACT MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE FLIGHT'S ENCOUNTER WITH A DOWNDRAFT. A FACTOR RELATING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE TREES.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/7/1993
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1345
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City RIO LINDA
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 95673
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 3
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
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 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
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) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Light and Variable
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 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) 227
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 7 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1650
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 51222
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:11PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4474E
NTSB Number LAX93LA143
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 E.L. ERICKSON
Aircraft Model TIERRA II
Aircraft Series Identifier TIERRA II
Aircraft Serial Number 4356
Certified Max Gross Weight 750
Aircraft Category Ultralight
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection Jan 2 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GULBRANSON, EDGAR A. ET. AL
Aircraft Owner Street Address 9342 MANETTE WAY
Aircraft Owner City ORANGEVALE
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 95662
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name GULBRANSON, EDGAR A. ET. AL
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 9342 MANETTE WAY
Operator City ORANGEVALE
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 95662
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 1342
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 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 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --