Scottish BULLDOG 120 N706X

Summary

On 8 April 2007 at about 23:45 local time, a Scottish BULLDOG 120 registered N706X was involved in an accident near So Lake Tahoe, California, United States. 2 people were on board and one died, one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

8 April 2007 at 23:45

Classification

Accident

Location

So Lake Tahoe, California, United States

Coordinates

38.7394, -120.0231

Aircraft

Scottish BULLDOG 120

Registration

N706X

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

So Lake Tahoe → Palo Alto

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX07LA122

1 person died.

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from objects and the mountainous terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot and his passenger departed for a flight across the Sierra Nevada mountain range to a destination on the California coast. According to the surviving passenger, the pilot intended to follow a highway through the mountains; however, he experienced difficulty in climbing high enough to clear the terrain. He elected to circle, to gain sufficient altitude to pass over a mountain summit. During the circling climb, the pilot flew south into even higher mountainous terrain. The airplane was unable to climb or maintain altitude, and struck a tree with the right wing. The airplane came to rest inverted in a pasture. No evidence was found of a preimpact mechanical malfunction or failure during examination of the airframe and engine.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.