Amateur-built Rocket II accident near Arvin, California, March 3, 2007
On March 3, 2007 at about 5:45 pm local time, a amateur-built Rocket II, registered N789JM, was destroyed in an accident near Arvin, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Loss of control during cruise for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 3, 2007 · about 5:45 pm local time
- Place
- Arvin, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Rocket II
- Registration
- N789JM · registry record · serial 001
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A flight of six airplanes, including the accident airplane, were returning back to their home airport following a morning flight. The route of flight took the group of airplanes over a local mountain range, which had turbulent weather conditions. Another pilot in the group reported that the winds aloft were between 40 to 70 knots over the mountains, and that he and his passenger were thrown about inside the cockpit. The pilot further reported that during the flight back, there were no radio communications from the accident pilot. Witnesses reported seeing the airplane flying low and fast over a vineyard, and it was then observed in a nose-down attitude that continued to ground impact on flat terrain. The witnesses did not hear any unusual engine sounds prior to the airplane's impact with the ground. The accident site was about 8 miles from the mountain range. Radar data showed that a target identified as the accident airplane was established at 4,900 feet (4,400 agl) at 250 knots. The radar target was then observed to enter a rapid descent to 2,800 feet (2,300 feet agl) prior to dropping off the radar. An inspection of the airframe and engine revealed no obvious mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
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: foreign licence, private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,350 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: July 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: unk
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Textron Lycoming IO-540-EXP (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MHV Mojave CA at 5:00 pm
- Destination: BFL Bakersfield CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.29 inHg
- Observation at 5:54 pm from BFL, 15 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.