ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 298408
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| Date: | Sunday 7 October 2001 |
| Time: | 21:00 LT |
| Type: |  Aero Commander 500 |
| Owner/operator: | Private |
| Registration: | N7846C |
| MSN: | 724 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1963 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 12300 hours |
| Engine model: | Lycoming O-540-A2B |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Petaluma, California -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Unknown |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Petaluma, CA (O69) |
| Concord-Buchanan Field, CA (CCR/KCCR) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The noninstrument rated pilot reported that he received a weather briefing and that visual flight rules (VFR) conditions prevailed at his destination, 31 miles to the southeast. It was a dark, moonless, night but stars were visible in the sky at the departure airport with haze to the west. Lights were visible 10 miles to the south. The pilot departed on runway 29 and made a right, downwind departure. During the departure turn, he encountered instrument meteorological conditions at about 900 feet. He reported that while in the clouds he had difficulty leveling the wings and there was "some altitude fluctuation." During this time there was a "pop" sound and the aircraft became difficult to control. He broke out on top of the clouds at 2,700 feet and proceeded to landing at his original destination. Control of the aircraft required him to input full right rudder control, 90 percent of available right aileron control, and to reduce power on the right engine. Inspection of the left wing revealed damage to the outboard 5 feet of the wing leading edge and embedded tree debris.
Probable Cause: The pilot's inadvertent (dark, nighttime) VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions and subsequent loss of altitude control. A factor in the accident was the pilot's inadequate preflight weather evaluation.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB LAX02LA001
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 15-Oct-2022 17:41 | ASN Update Bot | Added |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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