Piper PA-34-200T accident near Avalon, CA
On December 24, 2003, a Piper PA-34-200T (airplane) was involved in an accident near Avalon, CA. 5 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- December 24, 2003
- Place
- Avalon, CA
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-34-200T · Airplane
- Injuries
- 5 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 33.376°N, 118.419°W
- NTSB ID
- 20031231X02110
NTSB summary
1.1 HISTORY OF FLIGHT On December 24, 2003, about 1020 Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-34-200T, N3747U, impacted mountainous terrain while flying the missed approach portion of the (VOR/DME-B) approach to Catalina Airport (AVX), Avalon, California. Long Beach Flying Club was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The airline transport pilot/certified flight instructor (CFI), the commercial pilot under instruction (PUI), and three passengers sustained fatal injuries; the airplane was destroyed. The local instructional flight departed Long Beach (LGB), California, about 0954, en route to Avalon. Day instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan had been filed. The primary wreckage was at 33 degrees 22.35 minutes north latitude by 118 degrees 25.09 minutes west longitude. Southern California Terminal Radar Approach Control (SCT) Approach control cleared the airplane for the very high frequency omni-directional range/ distance measuring equipment-BRAVO (VOR/NDB-B) approach to AVX, and told the pilots to contact AVX UNICOM. The pilots established radio contact with the UNICOM operator, who advised them that the weather was: wind from 120 degrees at 4 knots; ceiling 100 feet overcast; and visibility 1.25 statute miles. AVX UNICOM received no further radio communication from the accident airplane. The National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge (IIC) reviewed recorded radar data from the Los Angeles Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) and noted a target identified with the flight's as
Probable cause
The failure of both pilots to properly execute the published missed approach procedure.
More accidents in CA
- Douglas MD-83, Feb 1, 2000
- Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-32, Aug 31, 1986
- British Aerospace BAE-146-200, Dec 8, 1987
- Beech C-99, Aug 24, 1984
- Sikorsky S-61N, Aug 6, 2008
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.
