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GAA17CA375

2017-06-29 · Tehachapi, California, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport TSP

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The noncertificated pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from residential buildings and trees in gusting wind conditions.

Factual narrative

According to a local news report, after the accident the non-certificated pilot stated, "The wind got the better of me and the near death experience is pretty interesting." He further stated, "I tried to level out before the crash into the house and aimed for the tree. I thought we were dead and I pulled the yoke as far as I could to get the elevation leveled out, which saved our life. I hit the tree with the wing and we spun and landed." Subsequently, the airplane came to rest in the residential neighborhood. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. After multiple requests, the non-certificated pilot failed to submit the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Form 6120.1 Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report, as required. The automated weather observation system on the accident site airport reported, about the time of the accident, the wind from 320° at 17 knots, gusting to 25 knots. The pilot departed on runway 29. According to a local news report, after the accident, the noncertificated pilot stated, "The wind got the better of me and the near-death experience is pretty interesting." He further stated, "I tried to level out before the crash into the house and aimed for the tree. I thought we were dead and I pulled the yoke as far as I could to get the elevation leveled out, which saved our life. I hit the tree with the wing and we spun and landed." Subsequently, the airplane came to rest in the residential neighborhood. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. After multiple requests, the noncertificated pilot failed to submit the National Transportation Safety Board Form 6120.1 Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report. The automated weather observation system at the accident airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 320° at 17 knots, gusting to 25 knots. The pilot departed on runway 29. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Altitude-Not attained/maintained - C
  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
  • C Personnel issues-Experience/knowledge-Experience/qualifications-Qualification/certification-Pilot - C
  • — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Gusts-Effect on operation

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2017_GAA17CA375.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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