Piper PA-23-250 accident near Hemet, CA
On April 30, 2020, a Piper PA-23-250 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Hemet, CA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- April 30, 2020
- Place
- Hemet, CA
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23-250 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 33.618°N, 116.866°W
- NTSB ID
- 20200430X75227
Official records · WPR20LA135
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn April 30, 2020, about 1200, Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-23-250 airplane, N6521Y, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Hemet, California. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 aerial survey flight. According to a fellow company pilot flying a similar mission in the area, the accident pilot was tasked to photograph two parcels of land, identified as flight plan 223 (FP223), and flight plan 224 (FP224). The flight plans were to be flown north to south, at 8,500 ft msl +/- 300 ft mean sea level (msl), and at 120 to 130 knots groundspeed. Examination of recorded camera data revealed the pilot had selected FP224 to photograph first. Prior to entering FP224, the pilot communicated with a fellow company pilot and stated that he was “about to be on station.” At a time between 1140 and 1210, the pilot made two distress radio calls. Recorded automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) data revealed the accident airplane departed CNO about 1131, climbed to an altitude of about 8,500 ft msl, established a ground speed of about 164 knots, and tracked southeast for about 42 miles. About 5 miles northwest of Diamond Valley Lake, the airplane descended to 8100 ft and decelerated to 130 knots before turning east. The airplane proceeded eastward for about 15 miles, passing near a Camp, a cleared area with several buildings located at the base of a valley. The airplane continued east for about 3 miles, then turned north, consistent with tracking toward the FP224’s
Probable cause
Maintenance personnel’s failure to properly inspect and replace damaged aileron control cables, which resulted in fatigue separation of the aileron control cable and loss of control of the aircraft.
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Browse: California · Piper 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.
