Stearns BD-4 N277MB

Summary

On 8 March 1989 at about 23:30 local time, a Stearns BD-4 registered N277MB, operated by Stearns, Eugene R., was involved in an accident near Leggett, California, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

8 March 1989 at 23:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Leggett, California, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Stearns BD-4

Registration

N277MB

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Stearns, Eugene R.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Santa Maria → Corvallis

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX89DVD03

2 people died.

THE PILOT'S CONTINUATION OF VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC), AND HIS FAILURE MAINTAIN PROPER ALTITUDE. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, HIGH TERRAIN, AND TREES.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

DURING A X-COUNTRY FLT, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TALL TREES AT THE TOP OF A CLIFF, NEXT TO THE PACIFIC SHORELINE. THE CRASH SITE WAS LOCATED ABOUT 1000 FT ABOVE THE SHORE. AFTER IMPACTING THE TREES, WRECKAGE WAS STREWN OVER ABOUT A 3000 YARD AREA OF RELATIVELY LEVEL TERRAIN. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THE ACFT WAS FLYING OVER WATER & ANGLING TOWARD THE SHORELINE, JUST PRIOR TO INITIAL IMPACT. APRX 50 TO 60 MI NORTH AT UKIAH, THERE WAS A REPORTED CEILING AT 2000 FT WITH LIGHT DRIZZLE & FOG. WX AT THE ACDNT SITE WAS NOT VERIFIED. NO EVIDENCE OF A PREIMPACT MECHANICAL PROBLEM WAS FOUND DURING THE INVESTIGATION.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.