Cessna 414 accident near Yorba Linda, CA

On February 3, 2019, a Cessna 414 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Yorba Linda, CA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.

Date

February 3, 2019

Place

Yorba Linda, CA

Aircraft

Cessna 414 · Airplane

Injuries

1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor

Damage

Destroyed

Position

33.872°N, 117.787°W

NTSB ID

20190204X12045

Official records · WPR19FA079

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

Air traffic control records

• ATC Audio: Recording (MP4), on ntsb.gov

NTSB summary

HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn February 3, 2019, at 1345 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 414 airplane, N414RS, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Yorba Linda, California. The pilot and four people on the ground sustained fatal injuries, and two people on the ground sustained serious injuries. The airplane was operated as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Review of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) radar and audio communications data revealed that, after departing Fullerton Municipal Airport (FUL), Fullerton, California, about 1339, the pilot initiated a climbing left turn to the east. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) existed at the departure airport; however, the weather transitioned to instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) with precipitation, microburst, and rain showers over the accident area. During the takeoff clearance, the FUL tower controller cautioned the pilot about deteriorating weather conditions about 4 miles east of FUL. Radar data showed that, about 5 1/2 minutes after takeoff, the airplane was about 7,800 ft above ground level (agl) before it entered a rapid, descending right turn and subsequently impacted the ground. Review of recorded data downloaded from the airplane’s Appareo Stratus 2S unit revealed that, at 1344:55, the airplane’s altitude was 5,500 ft agl with a right bank angle of about 110° and a pitch angle of about -35° nose down. Between 1345:03 and 1345:10, the pitch angle fluctuated between 45° nose down and 75° nose up, the bank angle fluctuated between 170° left and 150° right, and the airplane h

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control after entering instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) while climbing due to spatial disorientation, which resulted in the exceedance of the airplane’s design stress limits and subsequent in-flight break-up. Contributing to accident was the pilot's improper decision to conduct the flight under visual flight rules and to continue the flight when c

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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.