Jones RV-6A N46KA

Summary

On 7 March 2001 at about 06:00 local time, a Jones RV-6A registered N46KA was involved in an accident near Inyokern, California, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

7 March 2001 at 06:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Inyokern, California, United States

Coordinates

35.6411, -117.9317

Aircraft

Jones RV-6A

Registration

N46KA

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Torrance → Mammoth Lakes

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Night/Bright

NTSB number

LAX01LA110

2 people died.

the in-flight collision with mountainous terrain during a forced landing following a loss of engine power resulting from the pilot's inadequate weather evaluation, continued flight into icing weather conditions, his delay in carburetor heat use, and his delay in diverting to an alternate airport.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The amateur-built, airplane impacted mountainous terrain in dark night conditions after experiencing a loss of engine power while in cruise flight at 13,000 feet. The airline transport pilot obtained a weather briefing prior to departing on a visual flight rules (VFR) flight. During the briefing, the pilot was advised that VFR flight was not recommended and that flight precautions existed for icing conditions above 7,000 feet, the potential for mountain obscurement, cloud layers predominant through the route of flight and the chance of widespread rain. The pilot reported experiencing weather during his flight and the air traffic controller asked him if they wanted to continue in instrument flight conditions (IMC). The pilot stated he would like to continue in IMC and indicated if he encountered icing conditions he would "ask for a 180" and divert to another airport. Later during the flight, the pilot told the air traffic controller he was encountering snow. He called the controller again and reported he was experiencing a rough running engine and that he wanted to divert to a nearby airport and declare an emergency. The controller then issued radar vectors to the airport. The pilot continued to ask for and received terrain information as he descended past 5,000 feet. Radar data and communications were then lost. The airplane was found on the side of a mountain ridge at 4,700 feet.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.