Cessna 172N accident near Lytle Creek, CA
On December 7, 1997, a Cessna 172N (airplane) was involved in an accident near Lytle Creek, CA. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- December 7, 1997
- Place
- Lytle Creek, CA
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 34.251°N, 117.540°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X09326
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On December 7, 1997, about 0945 hours Pacific standard time, a Cessna 172N, N3548E, was destroyed near Lytle Creek, California. The pilot and passenger both received fatal injuries. The pilot obtained a preflight weather briefing from the Riverside Flight Service Station at 0702 from Upland, California, to Calexico, California. The flight originated at Cable Airport, Upland, about 0815. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed in the accident area at the time and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight. About 30 minutes after the approximate departure time witnesses in a mountainous area heard the sound of an airplane impacting terrain. The terrain was obscured in low clouds. Ground and air searchers were hampered by the cloud condition. Motorcyclists riding the fire roads came across the wreckage and notified the police. PERSONNEL INFORMATION According to excerpts from the private pilot's logbook, the last logged flight was conducted on November 21, 1997. At that time, the log entries reflected a total flight time of 320 hours. No instrument or simulated instrument times were found in the limited log information. The pilot's last biennial flight review was conducted on October 17, 1996. His last third-class medical certificate was issued on February 1, 1996. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION According to logbook information, the last documented annual inspection occurred on October 1, 1997. The total flight time was listed as 5,309 hours, with 127 hours since engine major overhaul. A copy of the membership check-out sheet was obtained. According to the
Probable cause
the non-instrument rated pilot's inadvertent VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), and subsequent loss of aircraft control, due to spatial disorientation. Factors relating to the accident were: the adverse weather conditions (low ceiling and fog), and the pilot's lack of instrument experience.
More accidents in CA
- Douglas MD-83, Feb 1, 2000
- Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-32, Aug 31, 1986
- British Aerospace BAE-146-200, Dec 8, 1987
- Beech C-99, Aug 24, 1984
- Sikorsky S-61N, Aug 6, 2008
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.
