Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Warner Springs, California 92536
Saturday, December 20, 2008 13:30 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

A witness to the accident reported that the airplane went straight up, stalled, started to spin downward, and then dove straight toward the ground before pulling up. The witness stated that he watched the airplane do the same maneuver a second time, again going straight up, starting to spin downward, and then go straight down before impacting a field. The witness said that a few weeks prior to the accident he observed the accident airplane performing the same maneuvers. All flight control components were accounted for at the accident site. The airplane was equipped with a single control column with a single yoke, which is commonly referred to as a "throw-over yoke." The single control arm, to which the single yoke is attached, was observed separated from the control column; this precluded identifying which pilot was manipulating the controls at the time of the accident. Examination of the engine and airframe revealed no evidence of any preexisting mechanical anomalies.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The failure of the pilot to maintain clearance from terrain during a low altitude maneuver.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/20/2008
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1330
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City Warner Springs
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 92536
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 332359N
Event Location Longitude 1164619W
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 1353 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 210
Weather Observation Facility ID RNM
Elevation of weather observation facility 1395
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 24
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 14
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 310
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) 30.12
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) 25997
NTSB Notification Source Regional 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 Sep 17 2009 1:04PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1587L
NTSB Number WPR09FA061
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 BEECH
Aircraft Model V35
Aircraft Series Identifier B
Aircraft Serial Number D-9865
Certified Max Gross Weight 3400
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 9 2007 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name Jerry F Peck
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Anaheim
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 92807
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Jerry F Peck
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Anaheim
Operator State CA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 92807
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 No
Departure Airport Code CNO
Departure City Chino
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1300
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code CNO
Destination City Chino
Destination State CA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 17 2009 12:39PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --