Cessna 182M N333LP

Summary

On 15 May 2005 at about 17:00 local time, a Cessna 182M registered N333LP, operated by Garold A. Miller, was involved in an accident near Palm Springs, 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

15 May 2005 at 17:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Palm Springs, California, United States

Coordinates

33.7919, -116.5878

Aircraft

Cessna 182M

Registration

N333LP

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Garold A. Miller

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Palm Springs → Santa Ana

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX05FA175

2 people died.

The pilot's inadequate in-flight planning/decision, and his failure to maintain clearance while maneuvering in rising terrain, resulting in an in-flight collision with terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane collided with mountainous terrain in a box canyon while attempting to reverse course. The pilot originally indicated that he would fly westbound direct to a navigation fix at 8,500 feet, and then direct to his destination airport. After takeoff, the controller instructed him to fly a heading of 280 degrees to provide clearance for a jet departure behind him. The pilot then changed to a southbound departure to another landmark with the intention of proceeding direct to his destination airport. The pilot contacted departure control that he was at 1,800 feet, and climbing to 8,500 feet. They informed him that they had radar contact, and instructed him to resume his own navigation. The pilot turned west, and then south to approximately 190 degrees. As he passed the western end of a landmark street near the airport, he turned to the west, up the accident canyon. The radar track showed the airplane heading about 280 degrees at a mode C reported altitude of 2,700 feet msl. The last radar return had the airplane turning left at 3,100 feet, in an area of steeply rising terrain to the west, about 0.7 miles north of the accident site. The airplane came to rest on an easterly heading on the south side of the canyon. The nose of the airplane abutted a rock face. After disassembling the engine, investigators did not discover any anomalies that would have prevented normal engine operation and production of rated horsepower.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.