Piper PA28-236 accident near Pomona, CA

On March 14, 2009, a Piper PA28-236 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Pomona, CA. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.

Date

March 14, 2009

Place

Pomona, CA

Aircraft

Piper PA28-236 · Airplane

Injuries

2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor

Damage

Destroyed

Position

34.053°N, 117.797°W

NTSB ID

20090315X21847

Official records · WPR09FA150

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

Air traffic control records

• Transcript of Radio Communications: Transcript (PDF), on ntsb.gov
• ATC Communications Recording: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
• ATCT Controller Statements: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov

NTSB summary

HISTORY OF FLIGHT On March 14, 2009, at 1115 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-28-236, N129AB, impacted elevated terrain in Pomona, California. The airplane was operated by the owner under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The two private pilots on board were killed, and the airplane was destroyed. Instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) prevailed, and an instrument flight plan (IFR) had been filed. The flight originated at Brackett Field Airport, La Verne, California, about 1112, and its destination was Mojave, California. The accident site was 2.15 miles south of Brackett Field Airport. At 1147, Brackett Field METAR reported winds variable at 5 knots; 1-statute mile visibility in mist; and 500-foot overcast. The next closest airport was the Ontario Airport, which is located 10 miles east of Brackett Field reported at 1053, winds 150 degees at 4 knots; and visibility was 2.5-statute miles in mist, with an 800-foot overcast. A pilot who departed ahead of the accident aircraft stated that he encountered IMC conditions at 500 feet above ground level (agl) and was in solid IMC until on top of the cloud layer at 3,100 feet mean sea level (msl). Witnesses reported that before departure they observed the male pilot seated in the left seat and the female pilot seated in the right seat of the airplane. The pilot received his IFR clearance from Brackett ground control at 1046. The pilot was cleared to Paradise VORTAC via Brackett departure 26 (climb via heading 159 to 1,400 feet msl, then climbing left turn via heading 130, intersect the Pomona VOR 164 radial outbound

Probable cause

The pilot's spatial disorientation while flying in instrument meteorological conditions that resulted in a loss of control of the airplane. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of recent instrument flying experience.

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Browse: California · Piper aircraft

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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.