Warner Springs Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Warner Springs, California 92086
Monday, January 10, 2011 17:24 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot and passenger were conducting a local flight when it became dark and they decided to divert to a nearby airport. As they approached the unlit airport, the left wing impacted the airport wind sock pole, located to the left of the approach end of the runway. Following the impact, the airplane collided with the ground. The accident occurred 2 minutes after the end of civil twilight.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the wind sock pole during landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/10/2011
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1724
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City Warner Springs
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 92086
Event Date Year 2011
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 331704N
Event Location Longitude 1164029W
Event Location Airport Warner Springs
Event Location Nearest Airport ID CL3
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 2885
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1753 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 190
Weather Observation Facility ID KRNM
Elevation of weather observation facility 1395
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 19
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) 10
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 40
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) 30.09
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 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 29055
NTSB Notification Source WP FAA Comm Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 16 2011 8:34AM
User who most recently changed record andj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N57027
NTSB Number WPR11LA096
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 RYAN AERONAUTICAL
Aircraft Model ST3KR
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 1594
Certified Max Gross Weight 1885
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 2
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 C91
Aircraft Owner Name Donald Hawkins
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City FALLBROOK
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 92028
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Richard Hawkins
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Lake Elsinore
Operator State CA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 92532
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 Temecula
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1700
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code CL35
Destination City Warner Springs
Destination State CA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 7 2011 3:21PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 08
Runway Length 4700
Runway Width 70
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --