GREENFIELD, CA, USA
N8507H
GRUMMAN G-164A
THE PILOT, WHO HAD LOGGED 20,000 FLIGHT HOURS, WAS WORKING FOR A FILM CREW TO LOCATE PICTURESQUE AREAS FOR FILMING. DURING THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT THE PILOT, WHO WAS FAMILIAR WITH THE AREA, FLEW AT AN INTENTIONALLY LOW ALTITUDE IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, WHILE CRUISING HE EXPERIENCED CHANGES IN THE AMBIENT LIGHTING CONDITIONS AND HILLSIDE SHADOWS, AND HE FAILED TO NEGOTIATE A CRITICAL TURN. HE INADVERTENTLY TURNED INTO A BOX-LIKE CANYON, FOR WHICH 'THERE WAS NO ESCAPE,' AND COLLIDED WITH UPSLOPING TERRAIN.
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ALTITUDE DURING AN INTENTIONALLY PERFORMED LOW ALTITUDE FLIGHT IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS RELATED TO THE PILOT'S VISUAL PERCEPTION OF THE CANYON AREA BECAUSE OF CHANGES IN THE AMBIENT LIGHTING CONDITIONS AND SHADOWS.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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