Beechcraft F33A N31706

Summary

On 13 January 1997 at about 22:39 local time, a Beechcraft F33A registered N31706 was involved in an accident near Mt San Jacinto, 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

13 January 1997 at 22:39

Classification

Accident

Location

Mt San Jacinto, California, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Beechcraft F33A

Registration

N31706

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Torrance → Palm Springs

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX97FA089

2 people died.

continued VFR flight by the pilot into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), and his failure to maintain proper altitude or clearance from mountainous terrain. Factors relating to the accident were: the high/mountainous terrain, and the adverse weather condition (low ceiling/clouds).

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

After takeoff, the pilot requested radar flight following service for his flight from Torrance through the Banning Pass to Palm Springs. Clouds were present in the Banning Pass area. At 1435:21, while proceeding at 7,600 feet in an easterly direction, the pilot asked the controller 'we on course through the Banning Pass?' The controller responded at 1435:26 and informed the pilot '. . . you're not through the Banning Pass but the Banning Pass is at eleven o'clock and eight miles.' There were no further communications from the pilot. The airplane continued cruising about 7,600 feet (mode C transponder altitude) on an east-northeasterly course until impacting terrain about 3.5 miles from the western side of Mt San Jacinto (peak elevation: 10,804 feet). Elevation of the crash site was 7,650 feet. A handheld type GPS receiver was found in the wreckage, and it was functionally tested. Extracted data revealed the GPS receiver had been operating during the accident flight. It had accurately recorded the airplane's flight track and indicated the airplane's last location within 1/2 mile of the crash site. The pilot was familiar with the southern California area.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.