ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 35631
Last updated: 5 September 2020
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| Date: | 04-JAN-1992 |
| Time: | 18:55 |
| Type: |  Cessna 421C Golden Eagle |
| Owner/operator: | private |
| Registration: | N2654M |
| C/n / msn: | 421C0691 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 6 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Mammoth Lakes, CA -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | |
| La Verne, CA (POC) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
DUE TO THE IMPENDING ARRIVAL OF A SNOW STORM, THE CERTIFICATED COMMERCIAL PILOT AND 5 PASSENGERS DEPARTED ONE DAY EARLIER THAN PLANNED, FROM AN UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT LOCATED IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN TO BEGIN A NIGHT, CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED. PRIOR TO DEPARTURE, THE PILOT WAS GIVEN AN IFR CLEARANCE VOID TIME FROM AN ARTCC. THE PILOT WAS CLIMBING TOWARD A VOR LOCATED ABOUT 27 MILES SOUTHEAST OF THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CONTACT THE ARTCC TO OPEN HIS INSTRUMENT FLIGHT PLAN. THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN TERRAIN CLEARANCE, AND BECAME LOST/DISORIENTED. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK TREES AND SNOW COVERED TERRAIN AT 10,200 FEET MSL, 7 NAUTICAL MILES AND ABOUT 22 DEGREES TO THE RIGHT OF THE INTENDED COURSE. CAUSE: THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO PLAN AND CONDUCT HIS DEPARTURE FLIGHT TO AVOID HIGH MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, DURING WHICH THE PILOT BECAME LOST/DISORIENTED. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS SELF INDUCED PRESSURE TO DEPART BEFORE THE ARRIVAL OF A SNOW STORM.
Sources:
NTSB: https://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20001211X13996
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 24-Oct-2008 10:30 | ASN archive | Added |
| 21-Dec-2016 19:22 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency] |
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