Amateur-built A75N1 accident near Big Bear, California, August 29, 1998
On August 29, 1998 at about 8:15 pm local time, a amateur-built A75N1, registered N56856, was destroyed in an accident near Big Bear, California. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's encounter with an unfavorable wind condition, which caused the aircraft to descend at a rate that exceeded the aircraft's climb capability.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 29, 1998 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Big Bear, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built A75N1
- Registration
- N56856 · no longer on the register · serial 75-4312
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The aircraft was part of a flight of two aircraft conducting for-hire sightseeing flights from the airport. After the aircraft turned on to the crosswind leg, downdrafts were encountered by both aircraft. The accident aircraft made a turn to the left and the trailing aircraft turned to the right. The accident aircraft recovered close to the ground, collided with a telephone pole, and came to rest inverted. The aircraft was destroyed by a postimpact fire. The pilot of the aircraft stated that there were no mechanical anomalies experienced with the aircraft. The aircraft was at full power, but not gaining altitude. A witness to the accident reported that approximately 5 miles southeast of the airport were rain showers. The aircraft was examined and control continuity was established. No mechanical anomalies were noted. This was the sixth flight of the day, with no discrepancies noted with the previous flights. At the time of the accident the weather was deteriorating. Meteorological data showed the presence of instability and convective activity conducive to up and downdrafts near the accident site.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 875 hours in all; 120 in this make and model; 175 in the last 90 days; 70 in the last 30 days; 825 as pilot in command; 57 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,157 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 22, 1998; 45 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental W670-6A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Twin-D Enterprises INC
The flight
- Departed from: L35 Big Bear CA at 8:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:20 pm from L35
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.