Cameron LANCAIR LEGACY N121J

Summary

On 18 May 2011 at about 22:45 local time, a Cameron LANCAIR LEGACY registered N121J, operated by Tumbleweed Inc, was involved in an accident near Pioneer, California, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

18 May 2011 at 22:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Pioneer, California, United States

Nearest airport

Tracy Muni (TCY)

Coordinates

38.5183, -120.2314

Aircraft

Cameron LANCAIR LEGACY

Registration

N121J

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Tumbleweed Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Minden → Tracy

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR11FA230

1 person died.

The pilot’s continued flight into instrument meteorological conditions at an insufficient altitude to clear terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During the personal flight, the airplane impacted mountainous terrain. The witness marks and debris field were consistent with an in-flight collision with trees and terrain. Weather information available for the time of the accident showed suspended precipitation and/or instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) near the accident site and the potential for icing in the accident area. The airplane's altitude could not be identified on radar; therefore, it could not be determined whether the airplane was flying in frozen, liquid, or a mixed-phase of precipitation at the time of the accident. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane likely impacted terrain due to the pilot's decision to continue flight into IMC at an insufficient altitude to clear terrain.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.