Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Arvin, California 93203
Saturday, March 3, 2007 9:45 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

A flight of six airplanes, including the accident airplane, were returning back to their home airport following a morning flight. The route of flight took the group of airplanes over a local mountain range, which had turbulent weather conditions. Another pilot in the group reported that the winds aloft were between 40 to 70 knots over the mountains, and that he and his passenger were thrown about inside the cockpit. The pilot further reported that during the flight back, there were no radio communications from the accident pilot. Witnesses reported seeing the airplane flying low and fast over a vineyard, and it was then observed in a nose-down attitude that continued to ground impact on flat terrain. The witnesses did not hear any unusual engine sounds prior to the airplane's impact with the ground. The accident site was about 8 miles from the mountain range. Radar data showed that a target identified as the accident airplane was established at 4,900 feet (4,400 agl) at 250 knots. The radar target was then observed to enter a rapid descent to 2,800 feet (2,300 feet agl) prior to dropping off the radar. An inspection of the airframe and engine revealed no obvious mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Loss of control during cruise for undetermined reasons.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/3/2007
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 945
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City Arvin
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 93203
Event Date Year 2007
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 351324N
Event Location Longitude 1185031W
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 954 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 310
Weather Observation Facility ID BFL
Elevation of weather observation facility 507
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 15
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) 9
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 12
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.3
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 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 23640
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Mar 3 2007 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record May 28 2008 12:03PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office WP-FAT-FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N789JM
NTSB Number LAX07LA099
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 Mallian
Aircraft Model Rocket II
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 001
Certified Max Gross Weight 2000
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed --
ELT Activated --
ELT Aided Location of Event Site --
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Jasbir S. Mallian
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Bakersfield
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 93313
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 MHV
Departure City Mojave
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 900
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code BFL
Destination City Bakersfield
Destination State CA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record May 14 2008 6:14PM
User who most recently changed record COOS
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 --