Fleming GLASSAIR III N77DF

Summary

On 14 November 1996 at about 13:05 local time, a Fleming GLASSAIR III registered N77DF was involved in an accident near Dunsmuir, 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

14 November 1996 at 13:05

Classification

Accident

Location

Dunsmuir, California, United States

Coordinates

41.3105, -122.3198

Aircraft

Fleming GLASSAIR III

Registration

N77DF

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Dunsmuir-Mott → Palm Springs

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

LAX97LA303

1 person died.

was the pilot's intentional flight into marginal meteorological conditions in mountainous terrain during dark nighttime conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The noninstrument-rated pilot departed before daylight in mountainous terrain under an overcast sky. The pilot did not file a flight plan nor obtain a formal weather briefing. When he failed to arrive at his destination a search was initiated. The aircraft was located 9 months later, about 4.5 miles south of the departure point in mountainous terrain. According to a sheriff's investigator, the engine was buried below the ground surface and the airplane was very fragmented.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.