Ryan NAVION A N4369K

Summary

On 30 March 2007 at about 08:44 local time, a Ryan NAVION A registered N4369K, operated by Grant H. Lindeman, was involved in an accident near Los Banos, 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

30 March 2007 at 08:44

Classification

Accident

Location

Los Banos, California, United States

Coordinates

37.2186, -120.8844

Aircraft

Ryan NAVION A

Registration

N4369K

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Grant H. Lindeman

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Los Banos → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

LAX07LA118

2 people died.

the pilot's intentional performance of aerobatic maneuvers that exceeded the design stress limits of the airplane structure. Also causal was the pilot's impairment due to the effects of alcohol consumption. Contributory was the pilot's impairment due to the effects of prescription medication.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Prior to the flight, the pilot and passenger had each consumed at least 8 to 10 beers. The pilot and passenger had departed from a local bar where patrons had overheard discussions between them about doing some "crazy" aerobatics. Recorded radar data was reviewed. During the last 10 minutes of the flight, the pilot performed high angle turns and pitch up maneuvers. During the last 30 seconds of flight, the pitch angle and vertical speed showed an increase to about 20 degrees and 2,500 feet per minute, respectively. The speed profile revealed the flight's speed was mostly in the region between structural cruise limit and never exceed speeds. Examination of the wreckage revealed the airplane experienced an in-flight break-up. All fracture surfaces were consistent with overload separations. Post accident toxicological tests on specimens from the pilot found a blood ethanol level of 222 mg/dL (0.222 percent) and hydrocodone in the blood at a level of 0.02 mg/L.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.