Cessna 172N accident near Julian, CA
On February 20, 1996, a Cessna 172N (airplane) was involved in an accident near Julian, CA. 3 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- February 20, 1996
- Place
- Julian, CA
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · Airplane
- Injuries
- 3 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 33.021°N, 116.490°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X05274
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On February 19,1996, at 2014 hours Pacific standard time, a Cessna 172N, N738ED, impacted terrain about 300 feet below an east facing ridge line located 2 miles south of the Julian VORTAC at Julian, California. The aircraft was destroyed and the ATP licensed pilot and two passengers were fatally injured. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight departed Imperial County Airport at El Centro, California, about 1840 and was destined for Palomar Airport at Carlsbad, California. The aircraft was on an IFR flight plan and a mixture of visual and instrument meteorological conditions prevailed along the route. The aircraft was operating in visual conditions above clouds prior to the accident, however, near zero visibility conditions existed at the accident site when rescuers reached the area about 2300. The wreckage was located in dense fog the following morning. The flight originated at Palomar Airport earlier in the evening for the purpose of assisting another pilot, who was in El Centro, in returning to Palomar. The pilot in El Centro, a private pilot without an instrument rating, had rented another Cessna 172 from the operator earlier in the day. He was uncertain about the weather conditions and he called the operator and requested that they send a flight instructor to accompany him on the return to Palomar. Two flight instructors left Carlsbad in the accident aircraft about 1730. There was no record of either flight instructor receiving a weather briefing before departing. In El Centro the two flight instructors split the renter pilot's party for the return to Carlsbad in t
Probable cause
the pilot's delay in requesting assistance to avoid high terrain. Factors were: the downdrafts, mountainous terrain, and the pilot's improper in-flight planning.
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Browse: California · Cessna aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
