Sierra Sky Park Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Fresno, California 93722
Tuesady, November 25, 2008 15:30 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that during the initial climb the engine misfired and only produced "marginal power." As he executed a left turn back towards the airport, the engine lost power and he performed a forced landing onto a golf course. During the landing roll, the airplane struck a berm and became airborne again. Subsequently, the airplane landed hard and came to rest upright. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the airplane fuselage was structurally damaged. Examination of the converted Ford engine by the pilot revealed that the fuel system was intact and undamaged. The pilot also reported finding "no obvious" anomalies with the ignition system. The reason for the loss of engine power was not determined.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The loss of engine power during initial climb for undetermined reasons.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/25/2008
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1530
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City Fresno
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 93722
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 365024N
Event Location Longitude 1195209W
Event Location Airport Sierra Sky Park Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID E79
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 321
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1516 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 160
Weather Observation Facility ID KFAT
Elevation of weather observation facility 336
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 8
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 15000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 12000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 3
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 80
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) 29.97
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 25598
NTSB Notification Source FAA Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 20 2009 11:44AM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6TR
NTSB Number WPR09LA047
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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 NICKEL
Aircraft Model RV-6
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 20492
Certified Max Gross Weight 1850
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 Sep 24 2008 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 4
Airframe Hours 70
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name NICKEL THEODORE W TRUSTEE
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City FRESNO
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 93711-1181
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name NICKEL THEODORE
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City FRESNO
Operator State CA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 93711-1181
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code E79
Departure City Fresno
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1528
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code E79
Destination City Fresno
Destination State CA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 17 2009 5:24PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 30
Runway Length 2920
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --