Daniel J Lee EXPRESS 90 N540EX
30 July 2000 · Cottonwood, California, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 30 July 2000 at about 02:47 local time, a Daniel J Lee EXPRESS 90 registered N540EX was involved in an accident near Cottonwood, California, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 02:47
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Cottonwood, California, United States
- Nearest airport
- Lake California Airpark (PVT)
- Coordinates
- 40.5000, -122.5000
- Aircraft
- Daniel J Lee EXPRESS 90
- Registration
- N540EX
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Carlsbad → Cottonwood
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX00LA282
People
3 people were seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing roll, which resulted in the on ground collision with trees.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The amateur-built experimental airplane impacted trees and ignited in flames after it veered off the runway during a landing at a private airport. According to the passenger, who was seated in the left rear seat, the private pilot made a "perfect landing" on runway 15. The passenger could not remember the following accident sequence and added that he opened his eyes and the airplane was on the ground among trees and a ring of grass fire surrounded the aircraft. Photographs taken at the accident site displayed tire tread marks deviating from the runway environment leading to the wreckage area. Blade tips from the propeller were found along the accident energy path imbedded in dirt and tree limbs. The FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, reported noting no anomalies that would have prevented flight operations. A nearby weather observation facility reported the wind from 170 degrees at 8 knots.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Aug 2000 | Piper PA-30 | Davis, California, United States | Travis AFB Aeroclub | No injuries | - |
| 9 Aug 2000 | Cessna 150H | Corona, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 14 Feb 2000 | Cessna 182L | Coulterville, California, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 31 May 2000 | Cessna 152 | Palm Springs, California, United States | The FLT School At Palm Springs | Fatal | 2 |
| 6 Nov 2000 | Cessna 340A | Selma, California, United States | Yecny Enterprises, Inc. | Fatal | 1 |
| 16 Feb 2000 | Cessna 172N | Palm Springs, California, United States | Bermuda Dunes Air Service | Minor injuries | - |