Mercury 1 N4625T
3 August 1992 · Pacifica, California, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 3 August 1992 at about 01:00 local time, a Mercury 1 registered N4625T, operated by Paul Beaulac, was involved in an accident near Pacifica, California, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 01:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Pacifica, California, United States
- Coordinates
- 37.6094, -122.4800
- Aircraft
- Mercury 1
- Registration
- N4625T
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Paul Beaulac
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Santa Rosa → Palo Alto
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- IMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX92FA330
People
2 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE PILOT'S DECISION TO ATTEMPT VISUAL FLIGHT IN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT AND HIS PASSENGER DEPARTED ON A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT AFTER AN INTERMEDIATE RE-FUELING STOP. THEY REPORTEDLY INTENDED TO DO SOME SIGHTSEEING EN ROUTE. DURING THEIR FLIGHT THEY ENCOUNTERED INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS AND COLLIDED WITH HILLY/MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. WITNESSES LOCATED ABOUT 300 YARDS FROM THE ACCIDENT SITE REPORTED THE TERRAIN IN THE VICINITY OF THE ACCIDENT WAS OBSCURED BY GROUND FOG. THEY SAID THEY COULD HEAR THE AIRPLANE, BUT COULD NOT SEE IT DUE TO WEATHER CONDITIONS. AN FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR EXAMINED THE AIRPLANE AND ENGINE AT THE ACCIDENT LOCATION. HE NOTED THAT THE AIRPLANE'S WOODEN PROPELLER SHATTERED ON IMPACT AND DETERMINED THE ENGINE WAS PRODUCING POWER.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Feb 1992 | Piper PA-28R-201T | Ludlow, California, United States | Higgins, Melvin W & Jean | Minor injuries | - |
| 22 Feb 1992 | Beechcraft C-23 | Fullerton, California, United States | Eldon R. Howe | No injuries | - |
| 23 Feb 1992 | Cessna 150 | San Jose, California, United States | Veda Corporation | Minor injuries | - |
| 23 Feb 1992 | Cessna 182N | San Ardo, California, United States | Soil Service, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 25 Feb 1992 | Grumman G-164B | Dixon, California, United States | Sunrise Duster, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 25 Feb 1992 | Bellanca 7ECA | Apple Valley, California, United States | Chester Waite | Serious injuries | - |