Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Novato, California 94945
Sunday, August 27, 2006 22:00 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During a cross country flight in dark night conditions, the aircraft collided with the side of a hill while diverting to an alternate airport. Low fog was reported to be moving into the area at the destination airport and the alternate airport at the time of the accident. Post accident inspection of the wreckage and engine did not reveal evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain terrain clearance while maneuvering. Rising terrain, fog and dark night conditions were factors.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/27/2006
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 2200
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Novato
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 94945
Event Date Year 2006
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 381131N
Event Location Longitude 1223438W
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 2154 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 50
Weather Observation Facility ID APC
Elevation of weather observation facility 35
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 15
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Night
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) 12
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 9
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) 29.92
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) 22495
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Aug 28 2006 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Nov 29 2007 8:02AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office WP-FSDO-Oakland, CA

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N312RV
NTSB Number LAX06LA275
Missing Aircraft Indicator Y
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Terry Tevis
Aircraft Model RV-6A
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 21199
Certified Max Gross Weight 1650
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Conditional
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 230
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name --
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Novato
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 94947
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 --
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 O51
Departure City Lincoln
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 2100
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code O69
Destination City Petaluma
Destination State CA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Unknown
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 21 2007 11:16PM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --