Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Los Banos, California 93635
Monday, August 5, 2002 6:20 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane collided with terrain while making a turn during an aerial application flight. The pilot had just finished his first pass over the field. He then pulled up and entered a left turn over hilly terrain along the farm's southern edge. The combined climbing turn and low airspeed were enough to stall the left wing. Shortly thereafter, the left wing contacted terrain. No mechanical malfunctions or failures were noted by the pilot prior to the mishap. Light winds were reported northwest from 1 to 3 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed while maneuvering, which resulted in an inadvertent stall.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/5/2002
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 620
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Los Banos
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 93635
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 365400N
Event Location Longitude 1205200W
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 Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 553 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 40
Weather Observation Facility ID KMCE
Elevation of weather observation facility 154
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 30
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Dawn
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 3
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.95
Density Altitude (feet) 76
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 14962
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Aug 5 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 710
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Mar 2 2004 8:06AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office WP-FSDO-Fresno, California

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8822Q
NTSB Number LAX02LA246
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Aero Commander
Aircraft Model S2R-T34
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 1522R
Certified Max Gross Weight 9950
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 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jul 22 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 43.2
Airframe Hours 16339.5
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Vance Aircraft Salvage Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. Box 1092
Aircraft Owner City Firebaugh
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 93622
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code VT6G
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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) Aerial Application
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City Los Banos
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 610
Departure Time Zone PDT
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 - aerial application
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Nov 25 2003 5:05PM
User who most recently changed record COOS
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --