History of Flight
On November 12, 2021, at about 1413 Pacific standard time, an experimental amateur-built Zenith STOL CH-701, registration N984LD, was destroyed in an accident near Randsburg, California. The pilot and pilot-rated passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operating as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
The accident occurred at Goler Heights Airstrip, located within a 1,500-ft-wide valley at an elevation of about 2,450 ft mean sea level. The runway was oriented on a southwesterly heading, with rising terrain to the north, a box canyon in line with the landing approach to the east, and a parallel ridgeline to the south that fell away to an open desert expanse.
A witness camping about ½ mile west and overlooking the runway heard the typical sound of an airplane in the traffic pattern about 1410 and saw a high-wing airplane flying northeast along the ridgeline about 300 ft over the runway. He stated it was flying in a manner appropriate for landing on the southwest runway. Shortly after, he heard increasing engine speed, and saw the airplane at the north end of the runway, flying northeast. The airplane was wobbling, then began to bank left. Its bank angle reached about 60°; the nose dropped, and the airplane descended rapidly to the ground.
Another witness within the runway valley saw the airplane flying northeast over the ridgeline about 50 ft above the ridge, appearing to bounce as if encountering turbulence. The airplane began a left turn consistent with an approach to land. Its bank angle rapidly increased to an estimated 90°, the nose dropped, and the airplane rapidly descended and collided with the ground, erupting in flames. Both witnesses did not see smoke or vapors before impact.
Data from an onboard Appareo Stratus 3 unit showed the airplane initially departed from Kern Valley Airport (L05), Kernville, California, at 1134, flying 15 miles north along the Kern River Valley, then turning and flying a 65-mile meandering track south, before heading northeast and landing at Inyokern Airport (IYK), Inyokern, California, at 1311. Fuel receipts indicated the pilot purchased 7 gallons of 100 low-lead aviation gasoline at 1331.
The accident flight departed IYK at 1349, climbing to about 3,100 ft msl (650 ft agl), then turning left to the southwest toward Goler Heights, gradually climbing to about 5,000 ft msl over 18 minutes while maintaining a groundspeed between 55 and 65 kts. At 1409, the airplane was about 3 miles northwest of and 2,500 ft above the airstrip. Over the next 2½ minutes, it began a descending left turn until reaching the parallel ridgeline of the left downwind leg, with groundspeed about 60 kts and descent rates between about 500 and 1,450 ft per minute. By the downwind leg, the airplane was about 800 ft laterally from the runway and slowed to 47 kts groundspeed. It continued along the ridgeline about 50 ft agl (125 ft above the runway) as speed decreased to 40 kts. Shortly after passing the landing threshold, it began a 25° left turn for a base turn. As the runway centerline approached, the turn tightened and groundspeed increased to 65 kts as it overshot the centerline and continued toward rising terrain. The last position was recorded five seconds later; the airplane had reached runway heading but overshot the centerline by 300 ft. The wreckage was found about 150 ft beyond and 100 ft below the last recorded position.
Personnel Information
Pilot
The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with a glider rating and a sport pilot endorsement for airplane single-engine land. He had not applied for FAA medical certification. His flight logbooks were damaged in the post-accident fire; remnants indicated 549 total flights, majority in gliders, with 112 total flights in the accident airplane since October 15, 2020. A friend stated he typically flew two to three times per week and had accumulated between 100 and 200 hours in it. No documentation indicated he had landed at the accident airstrip before. His flight instructor believed he had limited experience flying into remote airstrips. The pilot was flying from the left seat, the only position with wheel brake controls.
Pilot-Rated Passenger
The passenger was a US Navy-trained aviator, holding a commercial pilot certificate with airplane, glider, and rotorcraft-helicopter ratings, and a flight instructor certificate with a glider rating. He regularly flew the tow airplane for a glider club. His logbooks were current through May 2020. A social media post indicated they had flown together before in the accident airplane.
Aircraft Information
According to the kit manufacturer, the airplane was developed as an "off-airport" STOL airplane designed with the capabilities of an ultralight aircraft, also meeting the definition of a light sport aircraft. It was issued its airworthiness certificate in 2015. The pilot purchased it about 5 months before the accident. The airplane was equipped with leading-edge wing slats, but according to friends of the pilot, they had been removed during the preceding year to increase speed. The kit manufacturer stated that with the slats removed, the glide ratio would be lower, increasing the area required for landing. Maintenance logbooks were not located.
Meteorological Information
One witness stated wind was variable and gusting between 20 and 25 knots, with no dust devils or dust disturbance. Another witness described wind as gusting and generally out of the north. The airstrip had a windsock at its west end, but it was not in use, having been blown over during a recent storm. A pilot who landed shortly after the accident estimated wind about 10 kts out of the southeast, extremely unusual for the area, where winds are predominantly west or southwest.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The airplane came to rest inverted on a heading of about 035°, in the foothills of rising terrain of Red Rock Canyon State Park, about 700 ft short of the southwest runway landing threshold. The first identified point of impact was a ground disruption with propeller blade fragments and three indentations matching the nose and main landing gear dimensions, continuing on a heading of about 215° true for 75 ft to the main wreckage. The entire fuselage through to the leading edge of the horizontal stabilizer, most of the right wing, and the inboard section of the left wing sustained extensive crush and thermal damage, melting most aluminum structure. The horizontal stabilizer and rudder/vertical stabilizer assembly remained intact and in line with burnt fuselage remnants. Leading-edge wing slats were not located and appeared previously removed. No evidence of preexisting failure to flight controls that were not thermally destroyed. Flap position could not be determined; flight instruments were fire-destroyed. Propeller blades separated from the hub, both with evidence of chordwise rotation. The engine was largely intact; internal inspection revealed no catastrophic failure. Engine throttle controls and butterfly valve were at the high-power position. No evidence of birdstrike. Seat belt latches and tongues were locked.
Additional Information
Social media posts indicated the passenger was camping at Kern Valley Airport. The pilot sent a route plan the night before that included multiple airports, backcountry airstrips, and waypoints within the northern Mojave Desert east of Inyokern, with the first waypoint being Goler Heights Airstrip.
Flight Recorders
The Appareo Stratus 3 device sustained thermal damage. Data extraction by the NTSB Vehicle Recorders Division indicated the unit was turned on while in motion; many parameters were invalid, but date/time, GPS position, and ground speed appeared valid.
Medical and Pathological Information
Pilot
Autopsy by Kern County Sheriff-Coroner reported cause of death as multiple blunt force trauma. The autopsy identified an enlarged, dilated heart and moderate-to-severe aortic atherosclerosis, with no other significant natural disease. Toxicological testing by the FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory detected dextromethorphan, its metabolite dextrorphan, loratadine, its metabolite desloratadine, and carvedilol in cavity blood and liver tissue.
Pilot-Rated Passenger
The passenger's most recent second-class FAA medical certificate was issued on February 15, 2019; he reported no medication use or active medical conditions. His cause of death was multiple blunt force trauma.