Cessna 172 accident near Sutter Creek, CA
On December 24, 2014, a Cessna 172 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Sutter Creek, CA. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- December 24, 2014
- Place
- Sutter Creek, CA
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 38.405°N, 120.792°W
- NTSB ID
- 20141224X71626
Official records · WPR15FA070
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On December 24, 2014, about 1225 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 172, N8518B, impacted an access road in hilly terrain in Sutter Creek, California, about 2 miles north of Westover Field Amador County Airport (JAQ), Jackson, California. The private pilot and one passenger were fatally injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed along the flight route for most of the flight, and instrument flight rules (IFR) conditions existed at the destination airport at the time of the accident. No flight plan had been filed. The flight departed from San Martin, California, at an undetermined time and was destined for JAQ. A couple in a valley near the accident site reported hearing a low-flying airplane with an engine that seemed like it was "struggling" or not producing power. They then heard a loud "boom," and one of the witnesses went to search for the airplane. Once he found the wreckage, he called his wife, who called 911. Another witness in the area stated that she heard, but did not see, a low-flying airplane circling overhead and that the engine sounded like it was cutting out. The airplane then descended below a cloud layer, and she saw it heading in an eastbound direction. Local law enforcement reported that, upon arrival at the accident site, heavy fog was present with light rain and that the visibility was about 100 to 200 ft; there was no fire. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot, age 52, held a priv
Probable cause
The noninstrument-rated pilot's encounter with instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) while maneuvering, which resulted in a loss of airplane control due to spatial disorientation. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to attempt to descend into an area of widespread IMC.
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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.
