M Squared BREESE accident near Whitewater, CA
On May 13, 2012, a M Squared BREESE (airplane) was involved in an accident near Whitewater, CA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- May 13, 2012
- Place
- Whitewater, CA
- Aircraft
- M Squared BREESE · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 33.933°N, 116.642°W
- NTSB ID
- 20120513X50844
Official records · WPR12FA203
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- Record of Communication - Whelchel: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On May 12, 2012, about 1915 Pacific daylight time, an experimental light sport M-Squared Breese DS, N51336, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain near Whitewater, California. The pilot received fatal injuries. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) flight plan was filed for the flight. The pilot was a member of the Ultralight Squadron of America, which was a southern California chapter of the U.S. Ultralight Association. According to other members of the association, the pilot and the aircraft were based in Perris, California. The day before the accident, the pilot flew the aircraft from Perris to a private strip in Joshua Tree, California, and then to Kelly Airport (CA51), a private strip in Lucerne Valley, California, where the association was holding a weekend event. The morning of the accident, he again flew to Joshua Tree and back. He did not fly the aircraft any more that day, until he departed for Perris about 1830. Although the gathering was scheduled to continue overnight and into the next day, for unknown reasons, the pilot decided to return home that evening. Just prior to leaving CA51, the pilot told a colleague that due to headwinds, he (the pilot) had "better leave now" if he wanted to get home before dark. The pilot did not mention any problems with his aircraft, and the two did not discuss the winds or upcoming flight any further. Several of the members present watched the pil
Probable cause
The pilot’s decision to fly at low altitude in mountainous terrain in the presence of strong wind and turbulence, which resulted in an aerodynamic upset at too low an altitude for recovery.
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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.
