Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
the pilot's failure to maintain a proper cruise altitude and his inadequate in-flight planning. Contributing factors were encountering rising terrain and a downdraft.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On October 21, 1995, at 1530 hours Pacific daylight time, an Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Breezy RLU-1A, N3184, collided with terrain about 10 miles south-southeast of Henderson, Nevada. The airplane was owned by the EAA and was substantially damaged. The certificated commercial pilot received serious injuries, and the passenger was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The personal flight originated from the El Dorado Dry Lake Bed about 1525.
The pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board that, after taking off, he intended to fly to the North Las Vegas Air Terminal. While en route, he encountered strong winds, down drafts, and rising terrain.
The pilot further reported that the airplane climbed over the first ridge. Approaching the second ridge, he encountered "a severe down draft" and was not able to climb over the rising terrain. The airplane pancaked into the up-sloping rocky ground.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# LAX96LA019