Jones RV-6A accident near Inyokern, CA
On March 7, 2001, a Jones RV-6A (airplane) was involved in an accident near Inyokern, CA. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- March 7, 2001
- Place
- Inyokern, CA
- Aircraft
- Jones RV-6A · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 35.641°N, 117.932°W
- NTSB ID
- 20010308X00560
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On March 6, 2001, at 2200 Pacific standard time, an experimental amateur-built RV-6A single engine airplane, N46KA, was substantially damaged when it impacted rising terrain west of Inyokern, California. The airline transport pilot and pilot-rated passenger both received fatal injuries. The pilot, who was also the builder/owner of the airplane, was operating the airplane as a personal flight under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The flight had originated from the Zamperini Field in Torrance, California, about 2100, and was reportedly en route to Bishop, California. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed in the area and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan had been filed and activated en route. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), air traffic controllers at High Desert Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) were contacted by the pilot at 2115:39. The pilot indicated he was flying at 9,500 feet and was en route to Bishop. At 2118:13, the pilot reported he was going to climb to 10,500 feet. At 2139:04, the air traffic controller asked the pilot what the flight conditions were, to which the pilot replied, "we're VFR [visual flight rules]." At 2139:49, the pilot told the controller they were getting into rain and they were going to try to get under it. The pilot asked the controller if they were depicting the weather on the radar. The controller informed the pilot that a band of precipitation was depicted 5 miles north of the aircraft's position and it stretched to the east approximately 50 miles
Probable cause
the in-flight collision with mountainous terrain during a forced landing following a loss of engine power resulting from the pilot's inadequate weather evaluation, continued flight into icing weather conditions, his delay in carburetor heat use, and his delay in diverting to an alternate airport.
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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.
