Amateur-built Harmon Rocket II accident near Seal Beach, California, July 7, 2004
On July 7, 2004 at about 3:11 pm local time, a amateur-built Harmon Rocket II, registered N28BE, was destroyed in an accident near Seal Beach, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the in-flight separation of the elevator, which resulted in a loss of airplane control and an uncontrolled descent. The underlying cause and mechanism of the elevator separation could not be determined.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 7, 2004 · about 3:11 pm local time
- Place
- Seal Beach, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Harmon Rocket II
- Registration
- N28BE · registry record · serial 017
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane collided with a residence following an in-flight separation of the vertical stabilizer, elevator, and upper rudder, which resulted in an uncontrolled descent. The pilot, who was also the builder of the airplane, was on an instrument flight. While established in cruise flight at an elevation of approximately 5,000 feet mean sea level and 200 knots, radar contact was suddenly lost when the airplane entered a rapid descent. Review of the aircraft's radar data revealed primary radar returns were located near the aircraft's mode C returns near the time of the upset. Aerial and ground searches using trajectory data analysis on the primary radar returns commenced; however, no additional components were located. During a post-accident examination of the wreckage, investigators were unable to identify the stabilizer. The day prior to the accident the pilot indicated that he was experiencing control problems with the elevator trim system on the airplane. A manufacturer of another experimental aircraft kit, similar in design to the accident airplane kit, performed structural testing of his kit. These tests indicated that the flight loading could exceed the structural strength of the horizontal and vertical stabilizer control surface so modifications were made in his model to increase the structural strength. These structural modifications were not completed in the accident airplane, nor were they required. There is no requirement for experimental aircraft manufacturers or kit suppliers to analyze the structural integrity of the airplane throughout its operating envelope, nor does a builder have to establish the adequacy of the design during flight tests. The pilot's immediate family had a history of sudden death due to aneurisms and heart failure. Due to the circumstances of the accident, no usable medical data could be obtained to discern the pilot's medical condition at the time of the accident.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,000 hours in all; 250 in this make and model
- Last flight review: July 1, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 250 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, May 1, 2004
- Maximum gross weight: 2,225 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-EXP (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: TOA Torrance CA at 3:02 pm
- Destination: CNO Chino CA
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,600 ft; ovct at 1,600 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from LGB, 4 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.