American AA-1 accident near Oasis, CA
On December 15, 1994, an American AA-1 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Oasis, CA. 2 people were seriously injured. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- December 15, 1994
- Place
- Oasis, CA
- Aircraft
- American AA-1 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 0 fatal, 2 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 33.480°N, 116.099°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001206X02747
NTSB summary
On December 14, 1994, at 1620 hours Pacific standard time, an American AA-1, N6236L, owned and operated by the pilot, collided with mountainous terrain while maneuvering up a box canyon about 10 nautical miles southwest of Thermal, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed during the personal flight, and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was destroyed, and the commercial pilot and pilot-rated passenger were seriously injured. The flight originated from Palm Springs, California, on the day of the accident at 1535. In the pilot's accident report, he indicated that during the initial portion of the sightseeing flight he flew on a southeasterly direction near the cities of Palm Springs, Palm Desert, and Bermuda Dunes. After flying for about 30 minutes, he turned westerly to "fly lengthwise over a picturesque canyon." The pilot further reported that as the elevation of the terrain increased, he applied full engine power and attempted to gain altitude while climbing at the best angle of climb airspeed. The pilot indicated that the airplane was not able to climb over the rising terrain, and there was insufficient maneuvering room from the hillsides to reverse course. During the accident flight, no mechanical malfunctions or failures were experienced with the airplane.
Probable cause
the pilot's improper inflight decision by selecting an inadequate terrain clearance altitude over mountainous terrain.
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Browse: California · American aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
