Pilot Experience and Preflight
The pilot completed a one-hour checkout in the accident aircraft on the day before the flight. He obtained a preflight weather briefing before departing from Camarillo, California, with a planned route to Inyokern and then to Stovepipe Wells.
Flight and Refueling Stop
During an en route stop at Inyokern, the pilot refueled the airplane before continuing toward Stovepipe Wells.
Observations at Panamint Springs
Prior to reaching Stovepipe Wells, the airplane was observed circling an undesignated, unmaintained airstrip at Panamint Springs Resort. This airstrip was the only landing strip between the refueling point and the planned destination, and it was not listed on any aeronautical charts. The runway at Panamint Springs was oriented in approximately the same direction as the destination airport's runway: Panamint Springs had runways 25 for landing (uphill) and 07 for takeoff (downhill), while the destination had runways 05 and 23.
Landing and Go-Around Attempt
At Panamint Springs, the pilot landed on runway 25 with a tailwind. He then attempted a late go-around toward rapidly rising terrain. Witnesses reported that the aircraft touched down long and fast, then struck a dirt berm near the end of the strip.
Accident Sequence
The aircraft subsequently crashed approximately one-quarter mile beyond the departure end of the runway. Runway 25 at Panamint Springs had an uphill gradient of 5.5 percent and no windsock. The density altitude at the time was about 6,000 feet.