Cirrus Design Corp. SR 20 accident near San Jose, CA

On January 24, 2003, a Cirrus Design Corp. SR 20 (airplane) was involved in an accident near San Jose, CA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.

Date

January 24, 2003

Place

San Jose, CA

Aircraft

Cirrus Design Corp. SR 20 · Airplane

Injuries

1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor

Damage

Destroyed

Position

37.278°N, 121.717°W

NTSB ID

20030206X00175

Official records · LAX03FA072

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

Air traffic control records

• ATC 3 - Factual Report of Group Chairman: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
• ATC 3 - Attachment 1 FAA Accident Package: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
• ATC 3 - Attachment 2 Radar Data: Document (ZIP), on ntsb.gov
• ATC 3 - Attachment 3 Letter of Agreement: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
• ATC 3 - Attachment 4 Approach Plate: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov

NTSB summary

HISTORY OF FLIGHT On January 23, 2002, at 1653, Pacific standard time, a Cirrus SR 20, N893MK, collided with power lines near San Jose, California. The private pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The airplane was destroyed. The pilot, the sole occupant, sustained fatal injuries. The personal cross-country flight departed Napa County Airport (APC), Napa, California, at 1600, en route to Reid-Hillview Airport of Santa Clara County (RHV), San Jose. Day instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan had been filed. The primary wreckage was located at 37 degrees 16 minutes north latitude and 121 degrees 43 minutes west longitude. During the investigation, the recorded voice channels from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Northern California Terminal Radar Approach Control (NCT), Palo Alto ATCT, and Reid-Hillview ATCT were examined. Recorded radar data from the NCT ARTSIIIA system was also reviewed. During the initial portions of the flight after takeoff from Napa, ATC issued numerous radar vectors and altitude assignments to the pilot for traffic avoidance purposes. Review of the radar data disclosed that the pilot complied with all instructions. At 1627, when the airplane was approximately abeam Oakland International Airport, the NCT Saratoga sector controller instructed the pilot to proceed to navigational fixes near Palo Alto airport (PAO). The pilot questioned the clearance, and in the subsequent exchanges the controller acknowledged his mistaken belief that the pilot was des

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain the course for the published approach procedure due to his diverted attention. The distraction responsible for the pilot's diverted attention was the erroneous frequency assignment provided by ATC and the resultant task overload induced by this problem and the confusion surrounding the ATC clearances to get established on the final approach course, which likely invo

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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.