Tehachapi Municipal Airport, Tehachapi, CA

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Airport Area Accident History:
Accident occurred Saturday, May 10, 2008 in Tehachapi, CA
Probable Cause Approval Date: 6/30/2008
Aircraft: Schleicher ASK-21, registration: N361KS
Injuries: 2 Uninjured.
The glider was being towed to altitude by a tow airplane. During the takeoff initial climb, the spoiler handle was not locked and the spoilers momentarily extended twice and although the pilot felt that he had to input forward control forces, he did not visually check the position of the spoiler control handle. The tow pilot then gave a rudder wave signal to the pilot telling him to check the spoilers; however, because the spoilers appeared retracted when the pilot verified their position, the glider pilot misinterpreted the tow pilot and released the glider from the tow airplane at approximately 100 feet above ground level. The glider pilot force-landed the glider in a field. During the landing, the empennage broke from the remainder of the glider. The glider pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions with the glider.

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

The pilot's inadequate preflight procedures and failure to check the spoiler control position, which resulted in the inadvertent deployment of the spoilers during takeoff. A contributing factor was the pilot's misinterpretation of the tow pilot's instructions.

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Accident occurred Monday, October 15, 2007 in Tehachapi, CA
Probable Cause Approval Date: 12/20/2007
Aircraft: Schweizer SGS 2-33A, registration: N17888
Injuries: 1 Uninjured.
This was the pilot's first solo glider flight. He made a standard entry into the traffic pattern for a landing approach. He noted some turbulence that caused a decrease in altitude. On the final leg, the pilot attempted a slight correction to align with the runway. The right wing tip collided with a wire fence and the glider came to rest facing the fence approximately 50 feet short of the runway. The instructor of the accident pilot, and several witnesses, noted that the traffic pattern was flown lower than normal. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures.

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

The pilot's misjudged distance/altitude that led to an undershoot, and his failure to attain the proper touchdown point.

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Accident occurred Monday, June 25, 2007 in Tehachapi, CA
Probable Cause Approval Date: 8/28/2008
Aircraft: McDonnell Douglas DC 10-10, registration: N450AX
Injuries: 3 Uninjured.
The transport category airplane had been modified as a firefighting air tanker and was contracted to the State of California under an exclusive-use contract for the fire season. This was the second fire season for the operator, flight crew, and accident airplane. In order to facilitate the availability of the accident airplane, the contracting agency increased the personnel assigned to the program. Normal operational procedures required that a lead airplane fly the intended flight profile prior to the air tanker. The air tanker crew typically views the flight profile flown by the lead airplane, and then flies the profile while following the lead airplane. The lead airplane points out obstacles and general concerns along the flight path to the air tanker during that first flight. On the accident run, the original lead airplane with a pilot specifically trained for the DC-10 fire retardant drop procedures had switched out with a backup lead airplane and
pilot in order to return to base for refueling purposes. The backup lead airplane flew the flight profile prior to the accident airplane joining the flight profile for the fire retardant drop. As the captain flew the profile, the accident airplane flew at a lower altitude than the lead airplane, entered a left turn, and impacted multiple trees with the left wing. The digital flight data recorder indicated that the airplane had entered a 35-degree left bank with a vertical acceleration from 0.8 to 1.4 G's, which is consistent with normal loading in a banked turn. Although the flight crew was experienced with the operation of the accident airplane, they had limited fire suppression experience. The operator provided training on the airplane and training in operating in the fire environment. The flight crew obtained the majority of their retardant drop experience (in excess of 100 hours using water for drops) during the certification testing for the
airplane.

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

The captain's failure to maintain clearance from trees.

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Accident occurred Friday, January 16, 2004 in Tehachapi, CA
Probable Cause Approval Date: 5/30/2006
Aircraft: Cessna 180K, registration: N61691
Injuries: 1 Fatal, 1 Minor.
A Cessna 180K and a Beech 95-B55 collided head-on during cruise flight over a valley, between 1,500 and 2,000 feet above ground level. The Cessna's right wing separated, and the airplane descended to ground impact. The Beech, which had been in a cruise climb, experienced a punctured windscreen and fuselage. The pilot made a precautionary landing without further mishap. The collision occurred on a clear day about 6 miles west of the Tehachapi Airport, from where the Beech pilot had departed. Neither pilot was receiving services from the Federal Aviation Administration. Radar track data indicated that the Cessna had flown in a southeasterly direction after departing the Bakersfield area. Minutes prior to the collision, the pilot changed to a northerly course. Seconds prior to the collision the pilot initiated a northeasterly turn. The Beech pilot had just configured his airplane for a cruise climb, and was flying in a westerly direction toward Bakersfield.
The Cessna was flying about 135 knots, and the Beech was flying about 140 knots. The closing speed was about 275 knots, or just over 4 miles per minute. The Cessna was equipped with a Mode S transponder, and its signal was detected by Traffic Collision Alerting Device (TCAD) installed in the Beech. Seconds prior to the collision, the Beech pilot heard the audible "traffic" alert warning in his headset, and he observed an illuminated target in close proximity on the annunicator. The target was within 200 feet of his airplane's altitude, and in his 1 to 2 o'clock position. The Beech pilot reported that although he looked for the target, none was seen. The collision angle between the airplanes was documented. The impact was ascertained by fitting the Cessna's right main landing gear wheel in the punctured right side front windscreen of the Beech. As the Cessna's landing gear passed through the upper portion of the Beech's fuselage, the right wing's lift
strut was lacerated upon impacting the leading edge of the Beech's vertical stabilizer. Thereafter, the Cessna's right wing separated. An evaluation of the pilots' visual angles revealed the airplanes were within each pilot's field of vision.

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

The pilot's inadequate visual lookout during cruise, and the pilot of the other airplane's inadequate visual lookout during climb.

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Accident occurred Sunday, July 20, 2003 in Tehachapi, CA
Probable Cause Approval Date: 12/20/2005
Aircraft: Thompson Quickie Q2, registration: N218DT
Injuries: 1 Fatal.
The airplane entered a pilot induced oscillation during takeoff, collided with the runway, and was destroyed by a post impact fire. The accident occurred during the pilot's maiden flight in his experimental homebuilt airplane. Witnesses saw the airplane initially climb about 25 feet above the runway. Thereafter, the airplane descended until landing hard on the runway in a nose low pitch attitude. The airplane bounced/porpoised and impacted again whereupon it nosed over, slid to a stop, and was consumed by fire. Examination of the thermally destroyed composite airplane revealed no evidence of a preimpact mechanical malfunction or failure, and the reason for the pilot's failure to maintain control was not ascertained. No evidence of any preexisting physical disability was noted during the pilot's autopsy. Evidence of diphenhydramine was found in the pilot's blood and urine. This drug is an over-the-counter antihistamine preparations and typically results
in drowsiness, and is associated with degradation of cognitive and motor tasks.

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

The pilot's inadvertent entry into a pilot induced oscillation and failure to maintain airplane control during the takeoff initial climb. A contributing factor was the pilot's likely impairment by an over-the-counter drug substance that degraded his physical and mental performance.

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Accident occurred Friday, January 31, 2003 in Tehachapi, CA
Probable Cause Approval Date: 9/1/2004
Aircraft: Piper PA-28-140, registration: N6087W
Injuries: 2 Minor.
The airplane collided with terrain at night during the approach to landing. During a night flight under visual flight rules, the pilot discovered the weather at his destination was instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) so he decided to divert to Tehachapi to wait for the weather to improve. He flew over the airport at 7,500 feet to check the wind T, which indicated runway 11 was the preferred landing runway. His flight guide specified right-hand traffic for runway 11. The pilot entered the right traffic pattern on a 45 degree entry for runway 11. After turning on right downwind he heard the mike "keyed" several times. Because of this, he felt another airplane might be in the area. He extended his downwind leg, looking for the other airplane. He did not see or hear any other airplanes. He then proceeded to turn right base and then final. The pilot saw the runway lights and began a standard descent. While on final approach, he observed a red light
just slightly left of the airplane's windscreen. He immediately flew the airplane to the right, away from the light. Moments later, the airplane impacted the ground.


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

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance above the surrounding terrain, and his evasive maneuver to avoid a perceived object. A factor in the accident was the dark night.

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Accident occurred Wednesday, August 21, 2002 in Tehachapi, CA
Probable Cause Approval Date: 9/29/2004
Aircraft: Dodd RV-4, registration: N62VR
Injuries: 1 Minor.
The airplane nosed over during a forced landing in a field following a loss of engine power during the departure climb. The pilot manufactured the airplane, and it was undergoing its first test flight following the issuance of a Special Airworthiness Certificate. Approximately 10 minutes after takeoff the engine lost power. The pilot elected to land in a field. The landing forced debris into the wheel pants, which locked up the wheels. The airplane nosed over coming to rest inverted. Post accident examination of the engine by an FAA inspector revealed a fuel leak around the "B" nut that attached the aluminum fuel line to the throttle body. Removal of the nut and line revealed that the line cracked at the point of the flare. The builder had manufactured and installed this line.


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

the owner/builder's improperly fabricated and installed fuel line, which cracked at the point of the flare, resulting in a fuel leak and loss of engine power during the takeoff climb. A contributing factor was the soft terrain that jammed the landing gear wheels, nosing over the airplane during the ensuing forced landing.

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Accident occurred Friday, January 11, 2002 in Tehachapi, CA
Probable Cause Approval Date: 3/2/2004
Aircraft: Piper PA-22-108, registration: N4895Z
Injuries: 2 Minor.
The airplane stalled and descended to the ground while maneuvering to gain altitude shortly after takeoff. According to a sheriff's deputy, who witnessed the accident, the airplane departed runway 29, and barely cleared power lines during the initial climb. The airplane performed two 360-degree turns south of the airport and stalled, impacting in a field about 4,200 msl. The airport is located at 3,993 feet msl. Post accident examination by an FAA inspector determined that the fuel tanks were full at the time of departure. The density altitude was calculated about 5,000 feet msl. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions. The pilot's recommendation as to how the accident could have been prevented was taking off with less weight and at cooler temperatures.

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

the pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed while maneuvering in an attempt to gain altitude, which resulted in an inadvertent stall/mush. The high density altitude was a factor in the accident.

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Accident occurred Saturday, August 26, 2000 in TEHACHAPI, CA
Probable Cause Approval Date: 7/15/2002
Aircraft: CABLE-BREIGLER BG-12BD, registration: N4458
Injuries: 1 Fatal.
The glider was returning to the airport when the left wing and flap separated; the glider entered an uncontrolled descent into terrain. It was about 1 mile north of the airport and about 2,000 feet above the ground. It appeared to be preparing to enter downwind for the landing pattern for runway 27. The altitude was higher than normal for this approach, and the glider's speed was very fast. This glider did not have speed brakes; the flaps were used to slow it down. The flaps appeared to be activated when the left flap and wing separated. A section of the rear spar fractured and separated from the wing. The left wing spar fracture surface exhibited twisting characteristics.

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

The pilot exceeded the airspeed limit for operation of the flaps resulting in flap and wing overload and separation.

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Accident occurred Friday, June 23, 2000 in TEHACHAPI, CA
Probable Cause Approval Date: 10/2/2001
Aircraft: Schweizer SGS 1-26C, registration: N2792Z
Injuries: 1 Fatal.
The glider was observed to continue in a 360-degree turn until it impacted the ground after it made the downwind to base turn for landing. A witness reported having a conversation with the pilot 2 days prior to the accident. The pilot stated to the witness that the flight had gone well and there were no problems noted with the glider. An inspection of the glider was conducted. Control continuity was established from the control stick in the cockpit to the left aileron, rudder, and elevator. One-third of the right wing separated from the wing structure. Control continuity of the outboard portion of the right wing from the aileron to the separated control tube was established. No further discrepancies were noted.

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

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft speed and control while maneuvering to land.



Tehachapi Municipal Airport Approach / Landing: