Rominger Zic Zac Bird accident near Marina, CA
On December 9, 2001, a Rominger Zic Zac Bird (airplane) was involved in an accident near Marina, CA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- December 9, 2001
- Place
- Marina, CA
- Aircraft
- Rominger Zic Zac Bird · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 36.671°N, 121.747°W
- NTSB ID
- 20011213X02398
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On December 9, 2001, about 1439 Pacific standard time, an amateur built Rominger, Zic Zac Bird, N204ED, owned and operated by the pilot-builder, experienced an in-flight breakup while on approach to runway 29 at the Marina Municipal Airport, Marina, California. A witness reported observing a wing separate from the airplane during the airplane's roll out turn onto the final approach leg. Thereafter, the airplane descended into an open field. The airplane was destroyed, and the private pilot was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the personal flight, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight was performed under 14 CFR Part 91, and it originated from Marina about 1432. A witness observed the accident. The witness worked as a corporate pilot and was an acquaintance of the accident pilot. The witness stated that the wing separation occurred during a normal appearing turn toward runway 29, about 800 feet above ground level. Thereafter, the airplane entered a vertical dive, rolled, and descended until he lost sight of it behind trees. The witness additionally reported that he believed the airframe's total time was between 5 and 15 hours. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records indicate that the accident pilot fabricated and assembled the airplane. The FAA reported that the airplane had conventional landing gear and a single seat, and that it was principally constructed from wood and fabric components. The airplane was equipped with a 65-horsepower Volkswagen engine, with a fixed pitch wood pro
Probable cause
the failure the right wing spar and the subsequent separation of the right wing. Contributing factors were the pilot's inadequate maintenance, and the weakened wing structure due to a preexisting fuel tank leak.
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Browse: California
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
