Piper PA-28-180 accident near Big Bear City, CA
On November 22, 2003, a Piper PA-28-180 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Big Bear City, CA. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- November 22, 2003
- Place
- Big Bear City, CA
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 34.258°N, 116.703°W
- NTSB ID
- 20031201X01970
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On November 21, 2003, about 2100 Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-28-180, N7292W, collided with mountainous terrain 9 miles east of Big Bear City Airport, California. The airplane was a privately owned airplane operated by the Civil Air Patrol under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The commercial pilot and single observer/crewmember sustained fatal injuries and the airplane was destroyed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a visual flight plan had not been filed. The flight originated at Palm Springs Airport, California at 2028. The two-man aircrew was participating in a Civil Air Patrol (CAP) search and rescue training exercise (SAREX) being held at the Palm Springs Airport over the weekend. The crew arrived in Palm Springs about 1730. They attended a class room training session. The group was informed that high winds were expected the following day and flying operations might be cancelled. The aircrew decided to return to their home base at Big Bear Airport instead of staying in Palm Springs for the night. The aircrew had commented to the CAP Incident Commander that they had experienced some moderate turbulence on the flight out of Big Bear severe enough to have their heads hit the cockpit canopy and toss a cell phone out of the passenger's shirt pocket. Palm Springs Airport tower recorded that the airplane departed at 2028. The aircrew never returned to the Palm Springs Airport for the CAP Search and Rescue exercise (SAREX) the next day. The CAP notified the FAA of a missing airplane and the wreckage was located by the San Bernardino Count
Probable cause
The pilots inadequate preflight planning and intentional flight into known adverse weather conditions. Contributing to this accident was the fact that it was a dark night with no moon illumination.
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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.
