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.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov