Cessna 172N accident near Bermuda Dunes, CA
On June 9, 1996, a Cessna 172N (airplane) was involved in an accident near Bermuda Dunes, CA. 3 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- June 9, 1996
- Place
- Bermuda Dunes, CA
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · Airplane
- Injuries
- 3 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 33.711°N, 116.230°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X06016
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On June 9, 1996, about 0846 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N734FB, collided with terrain and a railroad track while on climb out from Bermuda Dunes airport, Bermuda Dunes, California. The aircraft was destroyed and the private pilot and his two passengers received fatal injuries. The aircraft was being operated by Bermuda Air Service, Inc., and rented by the pilot when the accident occurred. The flight originated in Bermuda Dunes about 0804. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. A witness reported seeing the aircraft landing and then taking off from runway 28. She watched the aircraft as it climbed out, then as the nose pitched up, and finally as it pitched down and disappeared behind a tree line. A second witness reported seeing the aircraft accelerating in level flight, about 30 to 35 feet above the runway. He continued to watch the aircraft as its nose pitched up about 75 to 80 degrees and it climbed to about 600 feet agl. He then saw the aircraft suddenly roll to its right and then drop out of sight behind a tree line. A third witness reported seeing the aircraft on a steep climb out from runway 28. He stated that while the aircraft was still in an extremely nose high attitude it pitched forward and descended behind a tree line in a near vertical, nose-down attitude. He estimated the aircraft's altitude about 300 feet agl at the time it pitched forward. (Copies of the witness' statements are appended to this report.) The aircraft was located on the Southern Pacific Lines railroad right-of-way
Probable cause
the pilot's impairment of judgment and performance due to alcohol and drugs (methamphetamine, amphetamine, & marijuana), his excessive maneuvering (pull-up) after making a touch-and-go landing, and his failure to maintain sufficient airspeed, which resulted in a stall and subsequent collision with the terrain.
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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.
