Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Los Banos, California 93635
Friday, March 30, 2007 1:44 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Prior to the flight, the pilot and passenger had each consumed at least 8 to 10 beers. The pilot and passenger had departed from a local bar where patrons had overheard discussions between them about doing some "crazy" aerobatics. Recorded radar data was reviewed. During the last 10 minutes of the flight, the pilot performed high angle turns and pitch up maneuvers. During the last 30 seconds of flight, the pitch angle and vertical speed showed an increase to about 20 degrees and 2,500 feet per minute, respectively. The speed profile revealed the flight's speed was mostly in the region between structural cruise limit and never exceed speeds. Examination of the wreckage revealed the airplane experienced an in-flight break-up. All fracture surfaces were consistent with overload separations. Post accident toxicological tests on specimens from the pilot found a blood ethanol level of 222 mg/dL (0.222 percent) and hydrocodone in the blood at a level of 0.02 mg/L.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's intentional performance of aerobatic maneuvers that exceeded the design stress limits of the airplane structure. Also causal was the pilot's impairment due to the effects of alcohol consumption. Contributory was the pilot's impairment due to the effects of prescription medication.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/30/2007
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 144
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Los Banos
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 93635
Event Date Year 2007
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 371307N
Event Location Longitude 1205304W
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 153 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 30
Weather Observation Facility ID MCE
Elevation of weather observation facility 156
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 15
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
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) 11
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 70
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.13
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) 23756
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Mar 30 2007 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jun 30 2008 11:48AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office WP- FSDO- Fresno

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4369K
NTSB Number LAX07LA118
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 Ryan
Aircraft Model Navion A
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number NAV41369
Certified Max Gross Weight 2950
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 3693
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name AIRNAV LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Winters
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 95694
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Grant H. Lindeman
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Winters
Operator State CA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 95694
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 LSN
Departure City LOS BANOS
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 124
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code LSN
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 6 2008 11:26AM
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 --