Extra Flugzeugbau Gmbh EA-300 accident near Salinas, CA
On April 8, 2012, an Extra Flugzeugbau Gmbh EA-300 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Salinas, CA. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- April 8, 2012
- Place
- Salinas, CA
- Aircraft
- Extra Flugzeugbau Gmbh EA-300 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 36.666°N, 121.554°W
- NTSB ID
- 20120408X21850
Official records · WPR12FA155
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On April 8, 2012, at 0655 Pacific daylight time, an Extra Flugzeugbau GMBH EA-300, N45R, collided with terrain 2.5 miles east of the Salinas Municipal Airport, Salinas, California. The airplane was registered to Invertical LLC, and operated by the owner under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 91. The commercial pilot and his passenger were fatally injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan had not been filed. The flight originated at the Salinas Airport about 0645. Witnesses reported being awoken by a low flying airplane. Two witnesses described the airplane as flying between 1,000 and 2,000 feet above the ground (agl) performing aerobatics. One witness stated that he observed the airplane perform two chandelles over the foothills north of his house, then the airplane turned south heading into the open valley. The airplane performed two aileron rolls and was halfway into a third roll when the nose pitched down, then pitched up and rolled so that one wing was pointing down, then simultaneously rolled inverted and pitched down entering a very rapid descent into the ground. Both witnesses that observed the airplane stated that the engine was operating at what sounded like full power throughout the entire event. Review of radar data obtained from the Northern California TRACON Facility depicted radar targets consistent with the accident airplane’s departure time, estimated altitudes, and location. The initial target began at 0648, at 3,000 feet mean sea level (ms
Probable cause
A loose portable XM-GPS antenna that migrated to the tail section of the airplane and jammed the elevator bell crank. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to account for the cockpit portable GPS antenna during preflight or postflight inspection.
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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.
