The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Air Safety Institute (ASI) has released a new episode of its Case Study video series, “High Desert Disaster.”
The latest Accident Case Study recreates the tragic events that led a novice backcountry pilot to crash on final approach to a backcountry airstrip in California’s Mojave Desert in 2021, killing both himself and his pilot-rated passenger.
The aircraft was an experimental, amateur-built Zenith STOL CH 701. Its commercially rated pilot had about 700 total hours, with more than 100 hours in this particular aircraft. However, all his landing experience in the aircraft appears to have been at airports with conventional runways.
“This accident showcases the inherent challenges of backcountry flying,” ASI Senior Vice President Mike Ginter said. “The pilot was looking to log his first landings on a remote strip. But the difficult environmental conditions, with erratic and unpredictable winds, coupled with his apparent lack of training and his modified aircraft, all conspired to contribute to the mishap.”
According to the kit manufacturer, the airplane was developed as an off-airport STOL aircraft, designed with the capabilities of an ultralight. But the wing slats had been removed, presumably to reduce drag and increase its airspeed. Without the slats, the backcountry aircraft would require a longer landing distance. This could have played into the mind of the pilot, as he set up for a short field landing at the bottom of a canyon on the desert floor.
In its final report, the National Transportation Safety Board determined that the accident was caused by the pilot’s improper landing approach, which failed to account for the unusual wind conditions that day, and his exceeding the angle of attack after overshooting the runway. “Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s lack of experience flying into challenging backcountry airstrips,” the NTSB concluded.
“As backcountry flying increases in popularity, the probability of accidents like this also rises,” Ginter said. “Before they set out on an exhilarating adventure to one of the hundreds of backcountry strips across the country, pilots need to ensure they have sufficient training and specialized skills in order to safely assess the heightened risks so that they can also enjoy the heightened rewards of this kind of flying.”
Accident Case Studies use FAA information, NTSB documentation, and video animation to recreate the dynamics of each accident and track the chain of events. The videos share critical lessons to help pilots recognize and avoid similar mistakes.
For more information: AOPA.org
Sometimes [regrettably] a person’s ultimate purpose in life-and-death is to serve as a warning to others.” — Unknown