Dittenber Thomas J AURIGA accident near Echo Bay, NV
On June 13, 2014, a Dittenber Thomas J AURIGA (airplane) was involved in an accident near Echo Bay, NV. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- June 13, 2014
- Place
- Echo Bay, NV
- Aircraft
- Dittenber Thomas J AURIGA · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 36.312°N, 114.457°W
- NTSB ID
- 20140613X25748
Official records · WPR14FA243
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn June 12, 2014, about 2105 Pacific daylight time (PDT), an experimental Dittenber Express Auriga, N55GM, impacted terrain during landing at Echo Bay Airport (0L9), Overton, Nevada. The owner/pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The private pilot and passenger were fatally injured; the airplane was destroyed by impact forces and postcrash fire. The cross-country personal flight departed Minden, Nevada, about 1800. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. A witness reported that the airplane made a low pass to the east of the airport and then reversed course, presumably to land at 0L9 using runway 24. The witness lost sight of the airplane as it neared the airport. A few minutes later, the witness observed a column of black smoke near the airport. Documentation of the accident site revealed the airplane impacted terrain at a steep nose down attitude. The debris field was about 100 feet in diameter. The airplane was mostly consumed by the post-impact fire. PERSONNEL INFORMATIONA review of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airman records revealed that the 48-year-old pilot held a private pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land and instrument airplane. The pilot did not hold a valid medical certificate. The most recent medical held was a third-class medical certificate issued on December 16, 2011. It had the limitations that the pilot must wear corrective lenses. No personal flight records were located for the pilot. The National T
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control while maneuvering for landing to an unlit runway in dark night conditions.
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Browse: Nevada
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
