Cessna 172 accident near Lompoc, CA
On December 10, 2008, a Cessna 172 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Lompoc, CA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- December 10, 2008
- Place
- Lompoc, CA
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 34.666°N, 120.468°W
- NTSB ID
- 20081210X30024
NTSB summary
On December 10, 2008, about 1440 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 172, N6461E, collided with a power line and impacted terrain in a field about 1/3 mile short of the threshold of runway 25 at Lompoc Airport, Lompoc, California. The airplane, which was owned and operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was killed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 local personal flight. The airplane departed from the Lompoc Airport at an unknown time. According to two witnesses, who were interviewed by local authorities, they were working in the field near one of the power poles when the airplane impacted the power line. They first noticed the airplane as it was traveling west over the field at a "very slow" speed about 50 feet above the ground, east of and approaching the power line that runs north/south across the field. The airplane passed between the upper and lower wires of the power line and impacted the lower wires. The airplane then descended and collided with the ground. Two other witnesses, one located about 500 feet southwest of the accident site and the other located about 1/2 mile east of the accident site, reported that they initially observed the airplane flying eastbound and then saw it make a "sharp right turn" to head westbound. The closer witness stated that when the airplane turned it hit the power line's lower wires and crashed in the field. The other witness stated that as the airplane turned its left wing clipped the power lines. According
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the power line. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of recent experience.
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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.
