Cessna 152 N701KA

Summary

On 5 June 1992 at about 22:14 local time, a Cessna 152 registered N701KA, operated by King Aviation Center, Inc., was involved in an accident near Sylmar, California, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

5 June 1992 at 22:14

Classification

Accident

Location

Sylmar, California, United States

Coordinates

34.3202, -118.3796

Aircraft

Cessna 152

Registration

N701KA

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

King Aviation Center, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Van Nuys → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX92FA236

1 person died.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY JUDGE AND EVALUATE THE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND HIS IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISION TO FLY CLOSE TO CLOUDS. THESE ACTS LED TO HIS ENTERING IMC AND BECOMING LOST AND DISORIENTED.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

DURING AN UNSUPERVISED SOLO INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT THE PILOT, WHO RECENTLY RECEIVED AN INSTRUMENT RATING, PLANNED ON INCREASING HIS FLIGHT TIME IN HOPES OF BECOMING A COMMERCIAL PILOT. THE PILOT INDICATED TO ATC THAT HE HAD RECEIVED THE LOCAL ARPT WEATHER. A BROKEN CEILING WAS REPORTED AT 2000 FT AGL (2800 FT. MSL). THE PILOT TOOK OFF AND FLEW NORTHBOUND TOWARD MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. AFTER FLYING FOR ABOUT 10 MIN, THE PILOT RADIOED ATC AND INDICATED HE DESIRED TO RETURN TO THE ARPT. ATC ISSUED THE PILOT A CLEARANCE WHICH HE ACKNOWLEDGED. THE PILOT DID NOT INDICATE THAT HE WAS EXPERIENCING ANY PROBLEMS, NOR DID HE REQUEST ASSISTANCE. THERE WERE NO FURTHER COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE PILOT. WITNESSES LOCATED ABOUT 1 MILE FROM THE CRASH SITE REPORTED OBSERVING THE ACFT FLYING IN AND OUT OF CLOUDS IN AN EASTERLY DIRECTION NEXT TO A MOUNTAIN. THE ACFT APPEARED TO REVERSE COURSE, AND IT INITIALLY COMMENCED FLYING IN A WESTERLY DIRECTION. THE ACFT THEN TURNED TO THE NORTH AND HEADED TOWARD THE MOUNTAIN WHICH WAS PARTIALLY CLOUD COVERED. THE ACFT DISAPPEARED FROM VIEW UPON REENTERING THE CLOUDS, AND SECONDS THEREAFTER THE SOUND OF AN IMPACT WAS HEARD. THE CRASH SITE ELEVATION, 8.3 NM FROM THE DEPARTURE ARPT, WAS ABOUT 2550 FT MSL.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.