ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 369377
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| Date: | Sunday 25 December 1988 |
| Time: | 01:20 LT |
| Type: |  Piper PA-28-161 |
| Owner/operator: | Deer Valley Aviation, Inc. |
| Registration: | N9276M |
| MSN: | 28-8616037 |
| Engine model: | LYCOMING O-320-D3G |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Yucca, AZ -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Bullhead, AZ (P06) |
| Scottsdale, AZ (KSDL) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED RECENTLY CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT DEPARTED BULLHEAD ON CHRISTMAS EVE FOR A NIGHTTIME FLIGHT TO PHOENIX SO HIS PASSENGER COULD CONNECT WITH AN 0800 AIRLINE FLIGHT HOME. THE PILOT TOOK OFF AND NAVIGATED TO THE SE FOR 23 NM. AWAY FROM ALL CITY LIGHTS AND OVER DESERT TERRAIN HE BECAME SPATIALLY DISORIENTED AND LOST CONTROL OF THE ACFT. THE ACFT DESCENDED AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED & COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN WHILE IN AT LEAST A 60 DEGREE BANK. THERE WERE NO WITNESSES TO THE CRASH. PERSONS LOCATED 6 MI E OF THE CRASH SITE REPORTED IT WAS FOGGY, THE VISIBILITY WAS 2 MI AND THERE WAS LIGHT RAIN AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
Probable Cause: PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS INCLUDED THE PILOT'S IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISION WHICH WAS RELATED TO HIS OVERCONFIDENCE IN HIS PERSONAL ABILITY, SPATIAL DISORIENTATION UPON ENCOUNTERING INCLEMENT WEATHER DURING THE NIGHTTIME FLIGHT, AND HIS TOTAL LACK OF FLIGHT EXPERIENCE.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB LAX89FA074
History of this aircraft
Other occurrences involving this aircraft
| 24 December 1988 | N9276M | Deer Valley Aviation | 2 | Yucca, AZ | |
w/o |
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 24-Mar-2024 13:57 | ASN Update Bot | Added |
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