Beechcraft D45 N8NV

Summary

On 18 May 2001 at about 17:32 local time, a Beechcraft D45 registered N8NV, operated by North Island Navy Flying Club, 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

18 May 2001 at 17:32

Classification

Accident

Location

Julian, California, United States

Coordinates

32.9956, -116.6592

Aircraft

Beechcraft D45

Registration

N8NV

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

North Island Navy Flying Club

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

NAS NorthIsland → Agua Caliente

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX01FA178

2 people died.

The pilot's selection of an insufficient altitude over rising mountainous terrain and his failure to maintain adequate terrain clearance.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot attempted to fly a military flying club airplane up a valley at a low altitude. The airplane was unable to outclimb the rising terrain, and it impacted the rocky hillside at an elevation of 3,400 feet mean sea level (msl). About 8 minutes after initiating the cross-country flight, and while en route to the planned destination airport, the pilot flew over a residence less than 400 feet above the ground, as evidence by the airplane's Mode C transponder. A witness, who was at the residence and who recognized the airplane, estimated its altitude as 500 feet above ground level. Thereafter, the pilot continued flying at a low altitude above ground level. The airplane's radar track disappeared as the pilot headed toward higher elevation terrain. The lowest altitude at which targets are observed on radar 1 mile south of the accident site area is between 3,600 and 3,700 feet msl. The accident airplane's track as it approached the accident site was not detected. The terrain leading to the accident site varies from 490 to 3,400 feet msl. The pilot was familiar with the accident site terrain, having flown over the terrain in military helicopters. No evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction was found during the wreckage examination.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.