De Havilland DHC 6 N708PV

Summary

On 24 May 2017 at about 22:15 local time, a De Havilland DHC 6 registered N708PV was involved in an accident near Perris, California, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

24 May 2017 at 22:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Perris, California, United States

Nearest airport

Perris Valley (L65)

Coordinates

33.7611, -117.2181

Aircraft

De Havilland DHC 6

Registration

N708PV

Category

Airplane

Year built

1976

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Skydiving

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Perris → Perris

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA17CA303

Nobody was injured.

The prospective pilot’s improper landing flare and the pilot’s delayed remedial action to initiate a go-around, which resulted in a runway excursion.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the twin-engine, turbine-powered airplane reported that, while providing flights for skydivers throughout the day, he had a potential new hire pilot flying with him in the right seat. He added that, on the eighth flight of the day, the new pilot was flying during the approach and "approximately 200' [ft.] south from the threshold of [runway] 15 at approximately 15 feet AGL [above ground level] the bottom violently and unexpectedly dropped out. [He] believe[d] some kind of wind shear caused the aircraft [to] slam onto [the] runway and bounce into the air at a 45 to 60-degree bank angle to the right." The prospective pilot then said, "you got it." The pilot took control of the airplane and initiated a go-around by increasing power, which aggravated the "off runway heading." The right wing contacted the ground, the airplane exited the runway to the right and impacted a fuel truck, and the right wing separated from the airplane. The impact caused the pilot to unintentionally add max power, and the airplane, with only the left engine functioning, ground looped to the right, coming to rest nose down. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system about 8 nautical miles from the accident site reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 280° at 7 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, few clouds at 20,000 ft agl, temperature 86°F, dew point 45°F, and altimeter 29.81 inches of mercury. The pilot landed on runway 15.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.