Inyokern Airport, Inyokern, CA

Location:

History:

Inyokern Airport Today:




Airport Services and Amenities:
Special Events:

Airport Area Accident History:
Accident occurred Wednesday, September 21, 2005 in Inyokern, CA
Probable Cause Approval Date: 4/25/2006
Aircraft: Bell 407, registration: N702WP
Injuries: 1 Uninjured.
The helicopter's tail rotor struck a rock outcropping during a confined landing at a remote mountain site. The pilot was moving two surveyors up the side of the southern slope of a mountain canyon. He dropped the surveyors off at a small saddle on a ridge, and departed to locate the next site upslope. He found a rocky outcropping that he thought would be a good landing site, and made one approach, but did not like the location due to uneven terrain. He then hovered over to another site a few yards away and proceeded to land. During the landing the tail rotor made contact with a small rock outcropping. Feeling the contact he proceeded to execute a successful autorotative landing from a hover.

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

The pilot failed to maintain tail rotor clearance from obstacles during landing.

===
Accident occurred Saturday, May 31, 2003 in Inyokern, CA
Probable Cause Approval Date: 9/29/2004
Aircraft: Beech 35-B33, registration: N5FL
Injuries: 4 Uninjured.
The airplane sustained substantial damage during a gear up landing. The pilot entered the traffic pattern for the runway in turbulent conditions. He slowed the airplane and entered downwind. After turning from base to final, the airplane touched down and skidded to a stop at the left side of the runway. The pilot thought he had moved the gear handle to the down position; however, it was found in the up position after the accident. He said he was not sure if he simply forgot to lower the gear or accidentally bumped the handle to the up position in the turbulence. No mechanical malfunctions were noted with the airplane.

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

The pilot failed to extend the landing gear.

===
Accident occurred Tuesday, March 06, 2001 in Inyokern, CA
Probable Cause Approval Date: 4/18/2003
Aircraft: Jones RV-6A, registration: N46KA
Injuries: 2 Fatal.
The amateur-built, airplane impacted mountainous terrain in dark night conditions after experiencing a loss of engine power while in cruise flight at 13,000 feet. The airline transport pilot obtained a weather briefing prior to departing on a visual flight rules (VFR) flight. During the briefing, the pilot was advised that VFR flight was not recommended and that flight precautions existed for icing conditions above 7,000 feet, the potential for mountain obscurement, cloud layers predominant through the route of flight and the chance of widespread rain. The pilot reported experiencing weather during his flight and the air traffic controller asked him if they wanted to continue in instrument flight conditions (IMC). The pilot stated he would like to continue in IMC and indicated if he encountered icing conditions he would "ask for a 180" and divert to another airport. Later during the flight, the pilot told the air traffic controller he was encountering
snow. He called the controller again and reported he was experiencing a rough running engine and that he wanted to divert to a nearby airport and declare an emergency. The controller then issued radar vectors to the airport. The pilot continued to ask for and received terrain information as he descended past 5,000 feet. Radar data and communications were then lost. The airplane was found on the side of a mountain ridge at 4,700 feet.

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

the in-flight collision with mountainous terrain during a forced landing following a loss of engine power resulting from the pilot's inadequate weather evaluation, continued flight into icing weather conditions, his delay in carburetor heat use, and his delay in diverting to an alternate airport.

===
Accident occurred Sunday, October 08, 2000 in INYOKERN, CA
Probable Cause Approval Date: 1/2/2002
Aircraft: Galaxy Balloons, Inc. GALAXY 7, registration: N52233
Injuries: 1 Serious, 1 Minor, 1 Uninjured.
The pilot anticipated encountering a light 2 to 4 mph wind during the flight with fare-paying passengers. During the flight the wind speed increased. After flying for 35 minutes, the pilot landed in a 12 mph wind.

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

The pilot's hard landing during a high wind condition.


Inyokern Airport Approach / Landing: