Witnesses Say Aircraft Veered Right On Approach
The National Transportation Safety Board has released its
Preliminary Report on the accident earlier this week that claimed
the life of aerobatic pilot Nick Nilmeyer.
According to the report, witnesses watched as Nilmeyer's plane
(above) approached to land on Runway 33 at Metz Field near
Greenfield, CA Tuesday morning. As the plane was on approach, the
witness told the NTSB the aircraft suddenly veered to the right and
nosed down, impacting the ground about 100 feet to the right, and
about 850 feet past the approach end of the 3400' dirt and gravel
runway.
The aircraft bounced once, before coming to rest within 50 feet
of the initial impact point, oriented at a 45 degree heading
relative to the runway.
The nearest weather observation, recorded at Salina Municipal
Airport about 30 miles to the northwest at 10:03 am PST, reported
winds from 140 (true) at 11 knots, with 10 miles of visibility
below a broken cloud layer at 2,700 feet, 3,400 feet overcast. The
observed temperature was 46 degrees Celsius, with a dewpoint of 43
degrees C.
The crash occurred just after 10:30 am.
NTSB Identification: ANC06LA026
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Tuesday, March 21, 2006 in Greenfield, CA
Aircraft: Extra Flugzeugbau 300S, registration: N124X
Injuries: 1 Fatal.
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 March 21, 2006, about 1030 Pacific standard time, an
experimental/exhibition certificated Extra Flugzeugbau GMBH 300S
airplane, N124X, sustained substantial damage when it collided with
the ground along the edge of a runway during final approach to land
at Metz Field, about 2 miles east-southeast of Greenfield,
California. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight
rules (VFR) local area personal flight for the purpose of aerobatic
flight proficiency under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident
occurred. The airplane was operated by the commercial certificated
pilot, the sole occupant, who received fatal injuries. Visual
meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at
Reid-Hillview Airport, San Jose, California, about 0930, and no
flight plan was filed.
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector,
San Jose Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), San Jose,
responded to the accident site. During a telephone conversation
with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)
investigator-in-charge (IIC), on March 21, the inspector reported
that the pilot was landing toward the northwest at Metz Field,
after practicing aerobatic maneuvers. The runway is partially dirt
and asphalt, oriented northwest/southeast. Witnesses told the
inspector that the airplane veered to the right and nosed down,
colliding with the ground about 100 feet to the right, and about
850 feet past the approach end of the runway. The airplane bounced
and struck the ground a second time, coming to rest within about 50
feet of the initial impact point, and about 45 degrees to the right
of the runway heading. The airplane received structural damage to
the wings, landing gear, and fuselage.
The closest weather reporting facility is Salinas, California,
which is located about 30 miles west-northwest from the accident
site. At 1003, a special weather observation was reporting, in
part: Wind, 140 degrees (true) at 11 knots; visibility, 10 statute
miles; clouds and sky condition, 2,700 feet broken 3,400 feet
overcast; temperature, 46 degrees F; dew point, 43 degrees F;
altimeter, 30.08 inHg.