Corona Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Corona, California 92882
Tuesady, February 25, 2014 12:30 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that he intended to fly the airplane in the airport traffic pattern and perform several full-stop landings. During the engine run-up before the first takeoff, the engine ran roughly on the right magneto. The pilot leaned the fuel mixture, which resolved the problem. He then completed the pretakeoff checklist, and, subsequently, he took off in the airplane, completed the pattern, and made a full-stop landing. During the second takeoff, the pilot climbed the airplane to about 800 feet above ground level where the engine lost power. After turning the airplane back toward the airport, the pilot determined that the airplane would not reach the runway, so he maneuvered the airplane toward an open grassy area on the airport. During the landing, he side-loaded the left main landing gear, which subsequently collapsed. A postaccident test run of the airplaneā€™s engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The loss of engine power during initial climb for reasons that could not be determined because a postaccident examination of the engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/25/2014
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1230
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City Corona
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 92882
Event Date Year 2014
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 335331N
Event Location Longitude 1173605W
Event Location Airport Corona
Event Location Nearest Airport ID KAJO
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 533
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 1220 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID KAJO
Elevation of weather observation facility 533
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
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) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Light and Variable
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 33182
NTSB Notification Source Western Pacific ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 25 2014 6:05PM
User who most recently changed record lewl
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1040L
NTSB Number WPR14LA123
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name LAKE
Aircraft Model LA 4 200
Aircraft Series Identifier 200
Aircraft Serial Number 633
Certified Max Gross Weight 2599
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 Jun 1 2013 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 2573
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type C91-A
Aircraft Owner Name MERLIN ASSOCIATES LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City WILMINGTON
Aircraft Owner State DE
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 198104902
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Jim Thomas
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Tustin
Operator State CA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 92780
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 KAJO
Departure City Corona
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 KAJO
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 Apr 25 2014 7:01PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --