Gilbert SX300 N330RJ

Summary

On 14 October 1992 at about 20:50 local time, a Gilbert SX300 registered N330RJ, operated by John D. Gilbert, was involved in an accident near Rosamond, 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

14 October 1992 at 20:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Rosamond, California, United States

Nearest airport

Rosamond Skypark (L00)

Coordinates

34.8694, -118.3404

Aircraft

Gilbert SX300

Registration

N330RJ

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

John D. Gilbert

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Carlsbad → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX93LA012

2 people died.

THE PILOTS INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE WIND CONDITIONS AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED WHILE MANEUVERING WHICH LED TO AN INADVERTENT STALL SPIN.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE INVESTIGATION WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHO WAS ACTUALLY FLYING THE AIRPLANE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. A 3,100 HOUR COMMERCIAL PILOT, WHO WAS THE OWNER AND BUILDER OF THE EXPERIMENTAL AIRPLANE, WAS IN THE RIGHT SEAT. THE LEFT SEAT WAS OCCUPIED BY HIS PRIVATE PILOT SON WHO HAD ABOUT 128 HOURS. THEY WERE ATTEMPTING TO LAND AT AN UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT ON RUNWAY 25. THE AIRPORT MANAGER AND FIXED BASE OPERATOR AT THE AIRPORT STATED THAT THE WINDS WERE OUT OF THE SOUTH AT ABOUT 25 MPH WITH GUSTS TO ABOUT 30 MPH. THE OPERATOR FURTHER STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE HAD MADE TWO OR THREE CLOSE IN LEFT HAND APPROACHES, EACH TIME OVERFLYING THE RUNWAY CENTERLINE ON THE TURN TO FINAL AND CORRECTING WITH STEEP BANKED TURNS BACK TO THE RUNWAY. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE ROLLED INVERTED WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH FROM WHAT APPEARED TO BE AN 'ACCELERATED STALL.' THE AIRCRAFT WAS EXAMINED AT THE ACCIDENT SITE BY AN FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR WHO REPORTED FINDING NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.