Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Creston, California 93432
Sunday, April 23, 2006 12:45 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot flew to an area where friends were setting up a motorbike course. The pilot said he intended to perform low altitude aerial reconnaissance over the area. While maneuvering, the pilot failed to observe a power line that was between 35 and 38 feet above ground level. The airplane collided with the line and then lost engine power. The pilot made a forced landing in an adjacent rough open field and during rollout the airplane was substantially damaged. An examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunction.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate clearance from obstacles while intentionally flying at a low altitude.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/23/2006
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1245
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Creston
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 93432
Event Date Year 2006
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 352973N
Event Location Longitude 1202758W
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 --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1253 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 130
Weather Observation Facility ID PRB
Elevation of weather observation facility 803
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 4200
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 230
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.05
Density Altitude (feet) --
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 22803
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Apr 23 2006 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Dec 20 2007 6:59AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office San Jose, CA

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N96088
NTSB Number LAX06LA147
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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 Christen Industries, Inc.
Aircraft Model A-1
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 1151
Certified Max Gross Weight 1800
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 Nov 1 2005 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 81
Airframe Hours 930
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Timothy J. Diestel
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Sonora
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 95370
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Jason J. Diestel
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Sonora
Operator State CA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 95370
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 No
Departure Airport Code SBP
Departure City San Luis Obispo
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1210
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code SBP
Destination City Creston
Destination State CA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2007 4:24PM
User who most recently changed record COOS
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --