California City Municipal Airport, California City, California

Location: The California City Municipal Airport is located 2 miles north west of California City, California.

History:

California City Municipal Airport Today:  Ballooning; Banner towing; Helicopter operations; Military operations; Parachuting; RC models, Soaring; Ultralights;



Airport Services and Amenities:  Restaurant on the field; Airport Cafe; lodging within 6 miles;

Special Events and Attractions:  Edwards Air Force Base; NASA Dryden Research Center;

Airport Area Accident History:

Accident occurred Sunday, February 26, 2006 in California City, CA
Probable Cause Approval Date: 2/28/2008
Aircraft: Aero Vodochody L39, registration: N39DF
Injuries: 2 Fatal.
The flight crew in the accident airplane and the producer-director in a second camera ship departed for a planned aerial photography flight. During the filming operation, the director issued a series of instructions to the accident flight crew, and the flight crew maneuvered their airplane pursuant to the instructions. After filming for about 1 hour, the producer, who was in the camera ship at 5,500 feet mean sea level (msl), directed that the accident airplane's crew to perform a "sharp snap roll to the right and pull down out of frame." The crew responded by rolling into a right 135-degree bank and descending. During the attempted recovery from the near split "S" course reversal turn, the airplane impacted the underlying 3,100-foot elevation hillside. Cameras in the accident airplane and the camera ship recorded video and audio during the accident flight that was reviewed during the investigation. No abnormalities in the accident aircraft were
observed. The severity of the impact and fire damage to flight controls and associated system components precluded confirmation of their preimpact integrity. Examination of available airframe and engine components revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:

The flight crew's failure to maintain terrain clearance during an intentionally performed course reversal turn at low altitude.

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Accident occurred Friday, December 30, 2005 in California City, CA
Probable Cause Approval Date: 4/25/2006
Aircraft: Avid Aircraft Mark IV, registration: N99BK
Injuries: 1 Uninjured.
The airplane nosed over after veering off the runway on takeoff. The pilot had a crosswind of 18 knots, gusting to 20 knots, from 30 degrees to his right. On the takeoff roll, the right wing and tail came up, pushing the airplane off the left side of the runway. The airplane nosed over when it entered the dirt. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:

the pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind and failure to maintain directional control of the airplane on takeoff.

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Accident occurred Saturday, October 29, 2005 in California City, CA
Probable Cause Approval Date: 2/28/2006
Aircraft: Dirks Glaser DG-300, registration: N30AS
Injuries: 1 Minor.
The pilot intentionally ground looped the glider and struck a berm after overshooting the desired touchdown point on the landing runway. The pilot was performing a high parasite drag maneuver on landing. On approach he realized that he would overshoot the first half of the runway and chose to land on the second half. The pilot reached for the spoiler handle, but by mistake pulled the gear handle instead and inadvertently retracted the gear. The glider touched down on the runway at approximately 70 knots. The pilot feared he would strike a berm at the end of the runway head on and intentionally ground looped the glider, striking the berm at a 90-degree angle to the left. The glider was destroyed, and the pilot received minor injuries.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:

the pilot's inadvertent retraction of the gear and failure to deploy the spoilers, and his subsequent failure to attain a proper touchdown point.

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Accident occurred Saturday, April 09, 2005 in California City, CA
Probable Cause Approval Date: 7/25/2007
Aircraft: Piper PA-24-250, registration: N7737P
Injuries: 1 Uninjured.
The gear collapsed on landing. En route, the pilot encountered turbulence, and climbed to 10,500 feet. As he crossed the Sierra Nevada Mountains, he observed an overcast layer over the San Joaquin Valley. He did not have an instrument rating and decided to divert back across the mountains to the airport where the accident occurred. During the descent, he encountered very heavy turbulence. On downwind, he selected the landing gear down, but it failed to extend, giving neither an up-or-down indication on the position lights. He observed the landing gear circuit breaker had popped out, and attempted to reset it, but it would immediately pop back out. He then activated the emergency gear extension system. In his report of the accident he stated, "I pulled on the handle and felt it was locked." On approach, the pilot experienced strong crosswinds and turbulence, and just after touchdown, the landing the gear collapsed. The airplane skidded approximately 200
feet along the runway. The reason for the failure of the landing gear system to extend normally was not determined.


The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:

The failure of the normal landing gear system to extend for undetermined reasons that resulted in a gear collapse during landing.

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Accident occurred Sunday, July 11, 2004 in California City, CA
Probable Cause Approval Date: 9/29/2004
Aircraft: Cessna R182, registration: N9108C
Injuries: 2 Uninjured.
The pilot failed to lower the landing gear prior to landing. While on final approach, an animal located near the runway distracted the pilot. Due to this distraction, he failed to lower the landing gear. The pilot did not hear the gear-up warning horn until the airplane touched down. The pilot noted no mechanical problems with the operation of the landing gear.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:

the pilot's failure to lower the landing gear. A contributing factor was the pilot's distraction while on final approach.

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Accident occurred Friday, April 02, 2004 in California City, CA
Probable Cause Approval Date: 6/30/2004
Aircraft: Cessna 177, registration: N88BM
Injuries: 4 Minor.
The airplane collided with terrain during the takeoff initial climb. Prior to departure, the certified flight instructor (CFI) noted calm wind conditions. During the initial climb, about 50 to 75 feet above ground level, the airplane began to descend, while rolling and yawing to the right. The CFI could not maintain control of the airplane, and it continued in a 300-foot-per-minute descent. The airplane impacted the ground and a fire erupted. After egressing the airplane, the CFI noticed a strong shift in winds into tailwind conditions. A few minutes later, he noted that the winds became light again, followed by periodic gusts and wind shifts. The CFI reported that the airplane had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight. The CFI reported that the airplane's gross weight was about 2,341 pounds, and the published maximum gross weight is 2,350 pounds.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:

the certified flight instructor's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed, which resulted in a stall/mush condition and a collision with terrain. Factors in the accident were strong tailwind conditions and a sudden wind shift.

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Accident occurred Tuesday, January 06, 2004 in California City, CA
Probable Cause Approval Date: 12/28/2004
Aircraft: Piper PA-28R-180, registration: N3820T
Injuries: 1 Uninjured.
The single-engine airplane encountered a ditch while taxiing for takeoff resulting in the collapse of the right main landing gear. The pilot stated that it was a dark night and he was relying on the landing light to help guide him down a taxiway parallel to the runway, as the airport was not equipped with taxiway edge lighting. While taxiing, the landing light suddenly turned off and he was unable to see his outside surroundings. The pilot inadvertently taxied off the left side of the taxiway, where the airplane encountered the ditch located in the dirt median. With the exception of the landing light, no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane were reported.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:

the pilot's decision to continue taxiing during dark night conditions without an operable taxi/landing light or taxiway lights and his failure to maintain taxiway alignment. Contributing factors to the accident were the dark night light conditions, the failed landing light, and the lack of taxiway lights.

California City Municipal Airport Approach / Landing: