Aviat A1 accident near Santa Ynez, CA
On May 15, 2019, an Aviat A1 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Santa Ynez, CA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- May 15, 2019
- Place
- Santa Ynez, CA
- Aircraft
- Aviat A1 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 34.691°N, 119.953°W
- NTSB ID
- 20190516X24126
Official records · WPR19FA146
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn May 15, 2019, about 1339 Pacific daylight time, an Aviat Aircraft Inc., A1-B airplane, N236AM, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Santa Ynez, California. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. A ranch owner reported that the pilot had landed the airplane at his ranch the morning of the accident. The ranch owner stated that, while walking with the pilot from the airplane to the club house, the wind began picking up, and the pilot decided to return home. After walking about halfway back to the airplane (about 100 yards), the pilot sat down on a bench and told the ranch owner that he was “kind of tired today.” A few minutes later, they continued walking to the airplane. The ranch owner then watched the pilot board the airplane, taxi out, and take off. The pilot was destined for Santa Ynez Airport (IZA), Santa Ynez, California, located about 23 miles east of the ranch. According to local law enforcement personnel, about 2000, concerned friends and family members notified them that the pilot had not returned, and shortly after, the Federal Aviation Administration issued an alert notice. A law enforcement air unit found the airplane wreckage the following morning on steep, rising, mountainous terrain about 8.8 miles northeast of IZA. Recorded radar data showed a radar target consistent with the accident airplane about 6 miles west of the ranch on a west-northwesterly heading at 4,675 ft mean sea level (msl). The data showed the airplane continue a west-nort
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from mountainous terrain during cruise flight in low visibility and mountainous obscuration conditions.
More accidents in CA
- Douglas MD-83, Feb 1, 2000
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Browse: California · Aviat aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
