Rominger ZIC ZAC BIRD N204ED
9 December 2001 · Marina, California, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 9 December 2001 at about 22:39 local time, a Rominger ZIC ZAC BIRD registered N204ED was involved in an accident near Marina, California, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 22:39
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Marina, California, United States
- Nearest airport
- Marina Municipal (OAR)
- Coordinates
- 36.6714, -121.7469
- Aircraft
- Rominger ZIC ZAC BIRD
- Registration
- N204ED
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Marina → Marina
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX02LA043
People
1 person died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
the failure the right wing spar and the subsequent separation of the right wing. Contributing factors were the pilot's inadequate maintenance, and the weakened wing structure due to a preexisting fuel tank leak.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
About 800 feet above ground level during the airplane's roll out turn onto the final approach leg for landing, the right wing spar broke and the wing separated from the airplane. Thereafter, the airplane commenced an uncontrolled descent until impacting an open field. The pilot built the experimental airplane principally from wood and fabric components. A family member reported that the pilot had designed the "one of a kind" airplane and planned to compete for various speed and climb performance records for airplanes having gross weights less than 660 pounds. An examination of the separated right wing's internal structure revealed evidence of a preimpact fuel leak. Styrofoam-like material had been used inside the wing, and it was discolored from fuel. The accident occurred on the first flight since the pilot ground looped the airplane, during which mishap the right wing was damaged. Following the ground loop, fuel leaked from the right wing which weakened the wing's wood structure. The pilot maintained his airplane.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 Jul 2001 | Hughes 269C | Tracy, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 21 Jul 2001 | Cessna R172K | Mammoth Lakes, California, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 14 Jun 2001 | Piper PA-46-350P | Stockton, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 7 Mar 2001 | Jones RV-6A | Inyokern, California, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 2 May 2001 | Cessna 177B | Santa Maria, California, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 8 Mar 2001 | Cessna 140 | San Jose, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |