Piper PA-24-250 accident near Anaheim Hills, CA
On December 16, 2002, a Piper PA-24-250 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Anaheim Hills, CA. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- December 16, 2002
- Place
- Anaheim Hills, CA
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-250 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 33.834°N, 117.776°W
- NTSB ID
- 20021226X05638
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On December 16, 2002, about 1430 Pacific standard time (PST), a Piper PA-24-250, N6268P, collided with terrain and several homes in Anaheim Hills, California, following the in-flight separation of the left wing and portions of the horizontal stabilizers. The private pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot and one passenger sustained fatal injuries; the airplane was destroyed. The personal cross-country flight departed Prescott (PRC), Arizona, at 1129 PST, en route to John Wayne/Orange County Airport (SNA), California. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at Orange County. An instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan had been filed in flight near Palm Springs, California. The primary wreckage was at 33 degrees 50 minutes north latitude and 117 degrees 46 minutes west longitude. A ground witness reported that he heard an airplane coming down. He looked up and saw the airplane with the wings vertical. He said that the engine was producing power. He saw the airplane hit the ground and skid into the house. He ran across the street to try and assist the occupants. He heard a hissing sound, and then the garage and airplane exploded. The National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge (IIC) reviewed a transcript of recorded radio transmissions. The airplane departed Prescott, and the pilot obtained flight following from Albuquerque Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) for the initial part of the trip. The pilot told them that he was level at 10,500 feet. His route of flight would be direct
Probable cause
the pilot's encounter with forecast severe turbulence during an inadvertent penetration of an intense weather cell, which resulted in the pilot exceeding the design structural limits of the airplane. A factor in the accident was the pilot's inadequate preflight planning and preparation, and his failure to obtain a complete weather briefing.
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Browse: California · Piper 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.
