Cessna 172 N8364L

Summary

On 24 April 1998 at about 22:15 local time, a Cessna 172 registered N8364L was involved in an accident near Ramona, 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

24 April 1998 at 22:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Ramona, California, United States

Nearest airport

Ramona (L39)

Coordinates

33.0693, -116.8310

Aircraft

Cessna 172

Registration

N8364L

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

El Cajon → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX98FA141

2 people died.

The loss of control of the aircraft on final approach for undetermined reasons.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Witnesses reported that the aircraft was on a stabilized final approach approximately 300 feet agl when it abruptly and without warning performed a wings level pitchover and dove vertically to the ground. All witnesses agreed that the aircraft did not stall and that it was not in a slip maneuver prior to the pitchover. A witness who was closest to the scene was emphatic that he observed the elevator control deflected nose down as the aircraft pitched over and that the elevator remained in that position until impact. The investigation did not reveal any evidence of a preimpact mechanical failure of the aircraft.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.