Cessna 172N accident near Big Bear, CA
On July 29, 2017, a Cessna 172N (airplane) was involved in an accident near Big Bear, CA. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- July 29, 2017
- Place
- Big Bear, CA
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 34.252°N, 116.849°W
- NTSB ID
- 20170730X40056
Official records · WPR17FA171
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn July 29, 2017, about 1420 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172N airplane, N5381J, was substantially damaged after it collided with mountainous terrain shortly after departure from Big Bear City Airport (L35), Big Bear, California. The commercial pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by Midfield Aviation under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the personal flight, which departed about 1415 and was destined for Apple Valley Airport (APV), Apple Valley, California. According to airport personnel, the pilot and his girlfriend arrived at L35 in the accident airplane the day before the accident. After they deplaned, the pilot proposed to his girlfriend on the airport ramp. The following day, an airport surveillance camera captured the airplane depart runway 08 normally and begin a climb. According to a witness located near the departure end of the runway, the airplane came into view about 100 ft above ground level. He stated that the airplane did not gain any altitude as it entered a nose-high attitude that he described as "hanging on the prop." Both he and his wife, who was with him at the time, yelled to the airplane to "lower the nose." The engine sounded smooth and continuous. As the airplane reached a park adjacent to the departure end of the runway, it turned to the crosswind leg of the airport traffic pattern momentarily before turning 90° to a tight downwind leg. The witness remarked that both turns
Probable cause
The pilot's exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack during takeoff in high density altitude conditions, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall, loss of control, and subsequent impact with terrain.
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 · 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.
