Schweizer 269C accident near Ontario, CA
On March 22, 1996, a Schweizer 269C (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Ontario, CA. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- March 22, 1996
- Place
- Ontario, CA
- Aircraft
- Schweizer 269C · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 34.020°N, 117.580°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X05420
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On March 22, 1996, at 1524 hours Pacific standard time, a Schweizer 269C helicopter, N155T, impacted a mountain slope 8 miles north of Ontario, California, at 4,600 feet mean sea level (msl). The aircraft was destroyed and the private pilot and one passenger were fatally injured. The personal flight departed from Hesperia, California, about 1500 destined for Brackett Field at La Verne, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at Ontario and included a 4,900-foot msl overcast cloud layer. A friend of the pilot, who had also been his flight instructor for his rotor wing rating, told the NTSB investigator that the pilot and his passenger departed from Brackett Field about 2100 on Thursday, March 21, for a night sightseeing flight. When they returned to Brackett the weather had "socked in" and, after loitering for about 2 hours, the pilot elected to land at Hesperia airport where air traffic controllers told him the weather was VFR. The pilot arrived at Hesperia about 0100 on Friday morning, March 22 and remained overnight. About 1100 on Friday morning the pilot and his passenger departed Hesperia to return to Brackett Field, but soon returned due to inclement weather. They again departed Hesperia about 1500 on the accident flight. The route of flight is unknown. An employee of Hesperia Aviation, Inc., reported that the aircraft was fueled once on the morning of March 22 about 1000. The aircraft was fueled to capacity (49 gallons) with 28.4 gallons of 100LL grade fuel. The employee commented that the pilot had made numerous telephone calls and ap
Probable cause
The pilot's decision to attempt a VFR descent into instrument meteorological conditions resulting in spatial disorientation.
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Browse: California · Schweizer 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.
