Door Located One Mile From Impact Site
Yet again, an open door seems to be a contributor in an aircraft
accident. The Velocity, which features large clam shell doors on
either side of the fuselage, would likely have been a tough bird to
handle with an open (and eventually separated) door and may have
presented controllability issues during the short tragic flight....
Repeat after me... Preflight, Preflight, PREFLIGHT!
File Photo
NTSB Identification: WPR10LA381
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Monday, August 02, 2010 in San Diego, CA
Aircraft: Advertising MGMT & Consulting Velocity Super XLRG5,
registration: N444YP
Injuries: 1 Fatal, 4 Serious.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may
contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when
the final report has been completed.
On August 2, 2010, about 1245
Pacific daylight time, a Advertising MGMT & Consulting Velocity
Super XLRG5, N444YP, was substantially damaged following an
emergency landing while maneuvering near San Diego, California. The
certificated private pilot and 3 passengers sustained serious
injuries, and one passenger was killed. Visual meteorological
conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and a flight plan
was not filed. The planned cross-country flight, which was being
operated in accordance with 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91,
had departed Montgomery Field (MYF), San Diego, California, about
1230. The flight’s destination was reported to be the
Fullerton Municipal Airport (FUL), Fullerton, California.
Initial reports from local law enforcement personnel revealed
that shortly after takeoff the pilot radioed air traffic control
that he had a problem closing one of the airplane’s doors. A
few minutes later the pilot made a second transmission to air
traffic control indicating that he intended to return to the
airport to land. The pilot subsequently made a forced landing on a
golf course about 2 miles from the departure airport, with the
airplane coming to rest in an inverted position on the golf course
property.
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector reported to
the IIC that an initial examination of the airplane wreckage
revealed that all components necessary for flight were present at
the accident site. The inspector added that one of the
airplane’s doors was located in a ravine about 1 mile from
the main wreckage.
The airplane was recovered to a secured location for further
examination.