Cessna 340 N2217B

Summary

On 18 January 2010 at about 23:08 local time, a Cessna 340 registered N2217B, operated by Everett Arinwine, was involved in an accident near Lytle Creek, California, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

18 January 2010 at 23:08

Classification

Accident

Location

Lytle Creek, California, United States

Coordinates

34.2072, -117.4331

Aircraft

Cessna 340

Registration

N2217B

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Everett Arinwine

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Henderson → Compton

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR10FA116

2 people died.

The pilot’s loss of situational awareness while maneuvering under a cloud layer and failure to maintain sufficient clearance from mountainous terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was on a cross-country flight near mountainous terrain when he encountered clouds along the flight path. A comparison of recorded radar data and weather reports in the local area indicated that the pilot was maneuvering near the cloud bases in an area with low visibility and ceilings. Based on the erratic and circling flight path, it is likely that the pilot was having difficulty determining his location and desired flight track when the airplane collided with terrain. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.