Farhat RV6A N961CP

Summary

On 22 December 1996 at about 21:08 local time, a Farhat RV6A registered N961CP, operated by Jerry L. Farhat, was involved in an accident near Julian, 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.

Date

22 December 1996 at 21:08

Classification

Accident

Location

Julian, California, United States

Coordinates

33.0197, -116.4909

Aircraft

Farhat RV6A

Registration

N961CP

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Jerry L. Farhat

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Bullhead City → San Diego

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX97LA071

2 people died.

flight by the pilot into known adverse weather conditions, which resulted in the accumulation of airframe ice and an inability to maintain clearance (proper altitude) from mountainous terrain. Moderate to severe icing conditions in clouds, turbulence, and mountainous terrain were related factors.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot received a full preflight weather briefing and an update briefing before takeoff. The briefings included information from a SIGMET and 3 AIRMETS, forecasting moderate to severe turbulence and icing along his route of flight. The conditions were expected to improve overnight; however, the pilot elected to depart that day. While en route, he reported icing conditions and requested a lower altitude. Shortly after receiving clearance to a lower altitude, the pilot reported being unable to hold the new altitude. He was asked if he could maintain terrain obstruction clearance, but he replied that he was in clouds. The pilot was then asked to try to maintain the minimum vectoring altitude (MVA) and to fly a heading that would keep him in that sector. The pilot was assigned a new heading and reminded of the MVA, but his responses were unintelligible. Contact with the pilot was lost. Subsequently, the aircraft impacted terrain at an elevation of about 4,600 ft. Wreckage was scattered over a distance of about 150 ft. An NTSB weather study identified conditions that were conducive for clouds, turbulence, windshear, and icing. The aircraft was not equipped with anti-icing or deicing equipment.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.