Cameron Airpark Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Cameron Park, California 95682
Sunday, March 21, 2004 12:10 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane collided with the ground while maneuvering for a forced landing following a partial loss of engine power during the takeoff initial climb. A pilot who had taken off immediately following the accident airplane heard the pilot say on the common traffic radio frequency: "seven four Victor starting a left turn to return to the airport." A ground witness saw the airplane flying slowly with the engine making a very low constant humming sound. Initially, the airplane's wings and nose were level with the horizon. Suddenly, the airplane turned left. The nose went "straight down" and the airplane rapidly descended while reversing course. The airplane collided with the ground in a nose down attitude and was destroyed. The engine had been operated about 54 hours since receiving a major overhaul. According to logbook records, the pilot had performed the last maintenance on the airplane about 3.1 operational hours prior to the accident flight. In part, the maintenance consisted of changing the oil and filter. During the post impact wreckage examination, both of the engine's magnetos were found with finger tight mounting bolts. Evidence was observed of the magnetos having worked back and forth on their mounts through their adjustment range. No other preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures were identified. Fuel was found in the pump, lines, and carburetor, and a significant quantity spilled from the ruptured fuel tanks.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed while maneuvering for a forced landing, which resulted in a stall/spin. Also causal was the partial loss of engine power due to improperly secured magnetos.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/21/2004
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1210
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City Cameron Park
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 95682
Event Date Year 2004
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 384010N
Event Location Longitude 1205812W
Event Location Airport Cameron Airpark
Event Location Nearest Airport ID O61
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 1286
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1145 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 331
Weather Observation Facility ID AUN
Elevation of weather observation facility 1536
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 18
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Day
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 210
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.09
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 19539
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Mar 21 2004 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1239
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Apr 25 2006 11:00AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office WP-FSDO Sacramento, CA

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6374V
NTSB Number LAX04FA168
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Alon
Aircraft Model A2
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number A-50
Certified Max Gross Weight 1450
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Mar 1 2003 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 54
Airframe Hours 1557
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated --
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Bohdan A. Sukiennicki
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Cameron Park
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 95682
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Cameron Park
Operator State CA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 95682
Operator Code --
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code O61
Departure City Cameron Park
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1208
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code O22
Destination City Columbia
Destination State CA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Descent - uncontrolled
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Jan 24 2006 4:22PM
User who most recently changed record COOS
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 13
Runway Length 4051
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --