Mitchell CH-801 accident near Nicholas, CA
On February 28, 2003, a Mitchell CH-801 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Nicholas, CA. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- February 28, 2003
- Place
- Nicholas, CA
- Aircraft
- Mitchell CH-801 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 38.933°N, 121.633°W
- NTSB ID
- 20030312X00321
NTSB summary
On February 28, 2003, about 1130 Pacific standard time, an experimental Mitchell CH-801, N235RJ, broke apart in flight near Nicholas, California. The owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot and one passenger sustained fatal injuries; the airplane was destroyed. The personal local flight departed Rio Linda Airport (Q94), Rio Linda, California, about 1000. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. A farm worker heard a thud and noticed debris in the air about 1130. Several hours later he informed the farm owner of his observations. They went to investigate and discovered the wreckage. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) accident coordinator examined the debris field. He estimated that the debris path was 2 miles long. The debris path was along a magnetic bearing of 340 degrees. The top surface of the right wing was the first item in the debris path. The next pieces were the vertical and horizontal stabilizers. They were approximately 400 feet away from the right wing top, and 50 feet apart from each other. The remainder of the right wing was 800 feet past the stabilizers. The left wing was an additional 300 feet away. The fuselage was near the end of the debris trail. A Safety Board investigator examined the wreckage at Plain Parts in Pleasant Grove, California. Rivet holes at separation points were elongated and/or deformed. Fracture surfaces were angular and irregularly shaped. The top 7-foot portion of the right wing separated. The inboard spar/rib structure bent aft and twisted o
Probable cause
an in-flight structural failure due to the pilot exceeding the design limitations of the airplane. Drug impairment was a factor.
More accidents in CA
- Douglas MD-83, Feb 1, 2000
- Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-32, Aug 31, 1986
- British Aerospace BAE-146-200, Dec 8, 1987
- Beech C-99, Aug 24, 1984
- Sikorsky S-61N, Aug 6, 2008
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.
