ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 230920
This information is added by users of ASN. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information.
If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can submit corrected information.
| Date: | Monday 25 November 2019 |
| Time: | 17:39 LT |
| Type: |  Beechcraft V35 Bonanza |
| Owner/operator: | Private |
| Registration: | N14UC |
| MSN: | D-8185 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1966 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 5296 hours |
| Engine model: | Continental IO-520-BA(2) |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Riverside County near Desert Center, CA -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Tucson, AZ (57AZ) |
| Hemet-Ryan Field, CA (HMT/KHMT) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The solo private pilot was performing a personal visual flight rules cross-country flight at night in mountainous terrain. The flight entered the mountain range on a westerly course then diverted to the east due to encountering inclement weather. The air traffic controller handling the flight lost the airplane on radar and the pilot on radio communications.
Several witnesses driving nearby reported that the airplane was flying close to the road at a steep angle before it impacted terrain and a postcrash fire ensued. Two witnesses added that it was dark night conditions, one reported high wind conditions, and another reported poor visibility during the time of the accident.
A meteorological study of weather conditions about the time of the accident indicated the potential for reduced visibility conditions, moderate to severe turbulence, and moderate to severe mountain wave conditions. A review of weather provider data revealed that the accident pilot had not received a weather briefing before the accident flight.
Postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed no preimpact anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Based on the available information, it is likely that the pilot lost control of the accident airplane when the flight encountered reduced visibility, high wind, turbulence, and mountain wave conditions while flying in dark night conditions in mountainous terrain.
Probable Cause: A loss of control in flight due to the pilot's decision to fly into a mountain range, at night, in conditions conducive to high wind, mountain waves, and turbulence.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB ANC20FA005
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/N14UC/history/20191125/1653Z/KHMT/KFFZ
FAA register: https://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=N14UC
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 26-Nov-2019 18:22 | Geno | Added |
| 26-Nov-2019 18:33 | Geno | Updated [Aircraft type, Registration, Cn, Operator, Departure airport, Source] |
| 26-Nov-2019 22:06 | Geno | Updated [Phase, Nature, Source, Damage, Narrative] |
| 01-Jul-2022 14:52 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Total fatalities, Other fatalities, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Damage, Narrative, Category, Accident report] |
| 01-Jul-2022 15:00 | harro | Updated [Total fatalities, Source, Narrative] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2024 Flight Safety Foundation