Morane-Saulnier MS 880B accident near Trinity Center, CA
On July 5, 1998, a Morane-Saulnier MS 880B (airplane) was involved in an accident near Trinity Center, CA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- July 5, 1998
- Place
- Trinity Center, CA
- Aircraft
- Morane-Saulnier MS 880B · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 41.050°N, 122.779°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001211X10625
NTSB summary
On July 5, 1998, approximately 1000 hours Pacific daylight time, a Morane Saulnier MS 880B, N55BF, impacted rocky terrain approximately 30 minutes after takeoff from the Trinity Center, California, airport. The aircraft was destroyed. The pilot/owner, the sole occupant, was fatally injured. The personal flight originated from Trinity Center approximately 0930 and was en route to the Montague-Yreka Rohrer Field in Montague, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. According to a witness who spoke with the pilot on the morning of the accident flight, the pilot asked for his opinion on the use of automotive fuel in his airplane. There is no fuel available at Trinity Center. The pilot then borrowed a 5-gallon plastic container from the witness and purchased 92-octane fuel at a local gas station. The pilot told the witness that he already had about 12 gallons of fuel onboard, but preferred to maintain an auxiliary fuel reserve. (According to the engine manufacturer, the accident aircraft normally burns about 5 to 6 gallons of fuel per hour in standard cruise flight.) He stated that he was planning to fly to Montague to refuel, which is approximately 47 nautical miles north of the Trinity Center Airport. After the pilot took off, the witness heard him tell an unidentified individual on the Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF) that he was low on fuel. The witness did not hear any further communication from the pilot. There were no eyewitnesses to the accident sequence. One witness stated that he drove by the scene about 1030, saw the
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed margin while maneuvering in a mountainous area at low altitude, which resulted in an inadvertent stall/spin.
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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
