Simons LANCAIR 235 accident near Llano, CA

On September 4, 1998, a Simons LANCAIR 235 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Llano, CA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.

Date

September 4, 1998

Place

Llano, CA

Aircraft

Simons LANCAIR 235 · Airplane

Injuries

1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor

Damage

Destroyed

Position

34.490°N, 117.770°W

NTSB ID

20001211X11085

Official records · LAX98FA282

• Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation

Air traffic control records

• Excerpts from ATC Report: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
• Audio Tape of WX Brief: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov

NTSB summary

HISTORY OF FLIGHT On September 4, 1998, at 0758 hours Pacific daylight time, a Simons Lancair 235, N1142W, collided with desert terrain under unknown circumstances in Llano, California. The experimental airplane, operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 by the owner, was destroyed. The private pilot, the sole occupant who was also the builder of the airplane, was fatally injured. Instrument meteorological conditions existed at the accident site. The personal flight departed the Chino, California, airport at 0707 with an intended destination of Redmond, Oregon. No flight plan was filed. The aviation surface weather report from nearby Palmdale, California, at the time of the accident was: visibility 1 1/4 mile with rain showers; the lowest cloud condition was reported as few clouds at 700 feet mean sea level (msl); and the lowest ceiling was reported as 2,600 feet msl. Another airplane took off from Chino approximately 30 minutes after the accident airplane, and filed an Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) flight plan for the same destination. Approximately 10 minutes after takeoff the second airplane caught up with the accident airplane. The pilot of the second airplane stated that he spoke to the pilot of N1142W and said that he sounded in good spirits, but was disappointed because he had to turn around and go back to Chino due to the weather conditions. He stated that he saw N1142W make a 180-degree turn and descend into the clouds, and that was the last that he saw or heard of him. Recorded radar data for the area was reviewed, with a primary 1200 VFR beacon code noted i

Probable cause

Pilot's inadvertent VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions , which resulted in spatial disorientation and a subsequent loss of aircraft control.

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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.