ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 37412
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| Date: | Saturday 30 September 2000 |
| Time: | 22:35 |
| Type: |  Piper PA-38-112 Tomahawk |
| Owner/operator: | Mazzei Flying Service |
| Registration: | N2493G |
| MSN: | 38-79A0546 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 11702 hours |
| Engine model: | Lycoming O-235-L2C |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | San Luis Obispo, CA -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | San Luis Obispo County-McChesney Field Airport, CA (KSBP) |
| Fresno Yosemite International, CA (KFAT) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
On September 30, 2000, about 2235 hours Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-38, N2493G, was destroyed by impact with terrain near San Luis Obispo, California. The private pilot was seriously injured and the sole passenger was fatally injured. The personal flight, operated by Mazzei Flying Service under 14 CFR Part 91, departed from the San Luis Obispo County-McChesney Field airport about 2230, and was destined for Fresno Yosemite International airport at Fresno, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed.
The recently certificated, non-instrument rated, private pilot took off in conditions of nighttime darkness from a coastal valley airport and climbed over a sparsely lighted area toward rising terrain. The airplane entered low stratus clouds that were not visible to the pilot until the airplane flew into them. He attempted to reverse course back toward the airport; however, during the turn the right wingtip contacted terrain in a plowed field and the airplane cartwheeled to the ground. The accident site was 4 miles from the departure airport and 120 feet higher elevation. The pilot obtained his certificate about 3 weeks prior and had 55 total flying hours, which included 5 hours at night. The pilot reported there were no mechanical problems with the aircraft.
Probable Cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from terrain while turning to reverse course following inadvertent nighttime flight into instrument meteorological conditions. A factor in the accident was the pilot's lack of experience in nighttime operations.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB: https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/brief.aspx?ev_id=20001212X22001&key=1
Images:
Photo: NTSB
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 24-Oct-2008 10:30 | ASN archive | Added |
| 21-Dec-2016 19:23 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency] |
| 12-Dec-2017 19:12 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Source, Narrative] |
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