Cessna 336A N3848U

Summary

On 15 November 1991 at about 02:00 local time, a Cessna 336A registered N3848U, operated by Richard A. Niemela, was involved in an accident near Big Bear City, California, United States. 5 people were on board and 5 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

15 November 1991 at 02:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Big Bear City, California, United States

Coordinates

34.2596, -116.8402

Aircraft

Cessna 336A

Registration

N3848U

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Richard A. Niemela

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Bullhead City → Fullerton

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

LAX92FA283

5 people died.

1) THE PILOT INADEQUATELY EVALUATING THE WEATHER, AND 2) THE PILOT MAKING THE INFLIGHT DECISION TO CONTINUE FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS. FACTORS IN THIS ACCIDENT WERE 1) THE INABILITY OF THE PILOT TO SEE THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN DUE TO THE AMBIENT LIGHT CONDITIONS AND OBSCURATIONS, AND 2) THE PILOT'S LACK OF INSTRUMENT FLYING EXPERIENCE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT OBTAINED A BRIEFING FROM THE FAA FLIGHT SERVICE STATION PRIOR TO HIS PLANNED FLIGHT. THE BRIEFER, IN PART, TOLD THE PILOT THAT MOUNTAIN OBSCURATIONS WERE FORECAST FOR CALIFORNIA. THE PILOT AND HIS 4 PASSENGERS DEPARTED ON THEIR PLANNED CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. THE AIRPLANE AND ITS OCCUPANTS DID NOT RETURN ON TIME AND FAMILY MEMBERS REPORTED THEM MISSING TO THE AUTHORITIES. A SEARCH WAS INITIATED, BUT WAS CALLED OFF THE NIGHT OF THE ACCIDENT DUE TO ADVERSE WEATHER. AFTER THREE WEEKS, THE OFFICIAL SEARCH WAS TERMINATED. THE PILOT'S FATHER CONTINUED THE SEARCH AND LOCATED THE DOWNED AIRPLANE WRECKAGE AT ABOUT THE 7,000 FOOT LEVEL OF A MOUNTAIN ABOUT 8 MONTHS AFTER IT WAS REPORTED MISSING. WITNESSES LOCATED NEAR THE ACCIDENT SITE THE NIGHT OF THE ACCIDENT, REPORTED THE MOUNTAINS WERE OBSCURED FROM ABOUT THE 4,000 FOOT LEVEL UP TO THEIR RESPECTIVE TOPS. THEY ALSO REPORTED 'HEAVY' SNOW IN THE AREA THE NIGHT OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT HAD LESS THAN ONE HOUR TOTAL INSTRUMENT FLIGHT TIME AND ABOUT 9 HOURS OF SIMULATED INSTRUMENT TIME.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.