Corona Muncipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lake Elsinore, California 92530
Wednesday, June 17, 2009 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot's spouse reported that the pilot and his friend were planning to fly to a local airport for lunch and then return back to his home airport. The airplane was found later that night in hilly terrain; there were no witnesses. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector responded to the accident site and reported that the airplane came to rest inverted on sloping terrain. The entire wreckage was present at the accident site, and the inspector was able to establish flight control continuity. Both wings showed similar leading to trailing edge crush damage and the empennage and tail were bent over the cockpit area, consistent with the airplane having stalled prior to impacting the ground. The reported weather in the area at the time was generally clear skies with wind from the northwest about 10 knots. A postaccident engine inspection revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A loss of airplane control for undetermined reasons.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/17/2009
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event --
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Lake Elsinore
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 92530
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 334454N
Event Location Longitude 1172317W
Event Location Airport Corona Muncipal Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID AJO
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 533
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1153 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 355
Weather Observation Facility ID RAL
Elevation of weather observation facility 819
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 14
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) 12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.91
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) 27959
NTSB Notification Source FAA AWP 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 Jan 24 2011 2:12PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8339V
NTSB Number WPR09LA293
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 CHAMPION
Aircraft Model 7ECA
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 196
Certified Max Gross Weight --
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 --
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
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 Stephen H Whitson
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Perris
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 92570
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Stephen H Whitson
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Perris
Operator State CA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 92570
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 F70
Departure City Murrieta/Temecu
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code AJO
Destination City Corona
Destination State CA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 24 2011 2:12PM
User who most recently changed record coos
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 --