Pilot Debrief

Wheeler EXPRESS SERIES 2000 near Camarillo, CA — 2019-08-07

Final reportWPR19FA212
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Date
2019-08-07
Location
Camarillo, CA, USA
Airport
CMA
Aircraft
Wheeler EXPRESS SERIES 2000
Registration
N43FD
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
2
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed on final approach, which resulted in exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall at an altitude that precluded recovery.

NTSB narrative

The pilot and passenger were landing at the destination airport following a cross-country flight. Witnesses saw the airplane on final approach for landing when it entered a right bank followed by a steep, nose-down descent. The airplane impacted the ground several hundred feet short of the runway threshold. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Given the available information, it is likely that the pilot failed to maintain airspeed on final approach, which resulted in an exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall at an altitude too low for recovery.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted the approach when entering aerodynamic stall.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 11 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents11

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