Sky Ranch Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Mountain Pass, California 92336
Tuesady, May 1, 2007 7:15 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The accident airplane was the second of two airplanes to takeoff for the intent of flying formation to another airport. The pilot of the first airplane reported that after takeoff, he made a turn to the north followed by a 360-degree turn to locate the second airplane. He saw the airplane following him around in the circle, and once he completed the circle, he again made a turn to the north and flew towards their destination. The first pilot thought that the accident pilot was following him, but when he arrived at their destination, he did not see the second airplane. The first pilot returned to the departure airport and noted a small fire off the end of the runway in the area where he had last seen the accident airplane. The first pilot stated that at no time during the flight did he hear a transmission from the accident pilot. There were no ground witnesses to the accident. The wreckage debris was in a confined area and came to rest about 30 feet from the ground scars constituting the first point of ground impact on the flat open terrain. The fuselage structure, cockpit, and engine suffered considerable impact and thermal damage. The airframe and engine were examined by FAA inspectors. Due to the impact and thermal damage only partial flight control continuity could be established. No preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures were identified.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The loss of airplane control while maneuvering after takeoff for an undetermined reason.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/1/2007
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 715
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Mountain Pass
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 92336
Event Date Year 2007
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 354750N
Event Location Longitude 1154756W
Event Location Airport Sky Ranch
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 3L2
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 2
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 2599
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 756 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 60
Weather Observation Facility ID HND
Elevation of weather observation facility 2492
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 26
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
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) 25
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 160
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.96
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) 23611
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date May 1 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-LAS-FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N169BC
NTSB Number LAX07LA147
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 Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Ceridono
Aircraft Model Vegas Sport Flyer
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 01
Certified Max Gross Weight 1350
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 1 2005 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed --
ELT Activated --
ELT Aided Location of Event Site --
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Robert A. Ceridono
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Sandy Valley
Aircraft Owner State NV
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 89019
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 3L2
Departure City Sandy Valley
Departure State NV
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 710
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code NV74
Destination City Pahrump
Destination State NV
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - initial climb
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record May 6 2008 5:38PM
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 --