Cessna 152 accident near Avalon, CA
On October 1, 1998, a Cessna 152 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Avalon, CA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- October 1, 1998
- Place
- Avalon, CA
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 33.381°N, 118.450°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001211X11090
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On September 30, 1998, about 1835 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 152, N49770, was destroyed after colliding with a peak along a ridge line on the west end of Santa Catalina Island, Avalon, California. The private pilot, the sole occupant, sustained fatal injuries. The local, personal flight originated from the John Wayne Airport, Santa Ana, California, about 1758. The airplane was being operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 by Orange County Flight Center, who rented the airplane to the pilot. No flight plan was filed and there were no witnesses. Visual meteorological conditions were being reported at the automated weather station at the Catalina Airport, approximately 8 nautical miles from the accident site. The airplane collided with terrain at 33 degrees 27.634 minutes north latitude and 118 degrees 33.750 minutes west longitude. A review of the transcript of radio transmissions between the pilot and air traffic control facilities revealed the pilot contacted clearance delivery for a VFR departure to the southeast at 1715. Taxi instructions to the run-up area were issued at 1747. Takeoff clearance was granted by the tower at 1758. Radar contact was established with John Wayne advisory at 1759; radar services were terminated and frequency change was approved at 1802. The airplane was discovered the following morning by a Coast Guard helicopter investigating the transmission of an ELT (emergency locator transmitter) signal. About 0950, the signal was traced to the accident site. The Coast Guard notified local authorities and the helicopter
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate altitude/clearance. Contributing to the accident were the hilly and mountainous terrain and glare from the setting sun.
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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.
