TAYLORCRAFT BL-65 near New Cuyama, CA — 2021-11-24
- Date
- 2021-11-24
- Location
- New Cuyama, CA, USA
- Aircraft
- TAYLORCRAFT BL-65
- Registration
- N29508
- Category
- Airplane
- Highest injury
- Minor
- Fatalities
- 0
Probable cause
The pilot’s decision to intentionally crash the airplane.
NTSB narrative
The pilot reported that the airplane’s engine lost power during cruise flight over mountainous terrain. He stated that after determining that there were no available emergency landing spots, he decided to bail out. The airplane was destroyed during the impact sequence, and the pilot sustained minor injuries as a result of the parachute jump. Shortly after the accident, the pilot provided a statement regarding the circumstances to the NTSB and FAA, and in a series of correspondences later stated that he had not been able to locate the airplane wreckage. However, evidence gathered by the NTSB and FAA indicated that the pilot had recovered the airplane from the accident site, destroyed it, and then disposed of the remains. The case was referred to the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, and in May 2023, the pilot admitted to the US Attorney’s Office that he both intentionally crashed the airplane, and destroyed the evidence. He plead guilty to a felony charge for obstructing a federal investigation by deliberately destroying the airplane wreckage.
NTSB coding
Evidence available
- ADS-B / radar
- 7 docket documents
Docket documents7
- EVIDENCE CONTROL FORMSform
- PILOT/OPERATOR AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT REPORT, NTSB FORM 6120.1form
- INTERVIEW SUMMARY - PILOTinterview
- PILOT PLEA AGREEMENTother
- US ATTORNEY'S OFFICE CHARGESother
- FAA PRIMARY TARGET RADAR DATA - NO DISCRETE TRANSPONDER CODEradar
- ELECTRONIC DEVICES (MICROSD CARDS) - SPECIALIST'S FACTUAL REPORTreport
Related mishaps
- PIPER PA-28-161
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