Cessna 170B N170CT

Summary

On 2 October 1994 at about 05:08 local time, a Cessna 170B registered N170CT, operated by David Miles, was involved in an accident near Ramona, California, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

2 October 1994 at 05:08

Classification

Accident

Location

Ramona, California, United States

Nearest airport

Ramona Airport (L39)

Coordinates

33.0707, -116.8295

Aircraft

Cessna 170B

Registration

N170CT

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

David Miles

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → San Diego

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

LAX95LA001

1 person died.

the noninstrument-rated pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control due to spatial disorientation after encountering instrument meteorological conditions after the pilot decided to takeoff in adverse weather conditions. A factor in the accident was the dark nighttime lighting conditions and the pilot's lack of recent experience.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

AFTER DEPARTING THE AIRPORT ON RUNWAY 27, THE NONINSTRUMENTED RATED PILOT TURNED LEFT AFTER CLIMBING SEVERAL HUNDRED FEET. THE WITNESS ON THE GROUND LOST VISUAL CONTACT WITH THE AIRCRAFT POSITION LIGHTS AFTER THE LEFT TURN. OTHERS ON THE GROUND REPORTED THEY HEARD THE AIRCRAFT FLYING LOW OVERHEAD. ENGINE SOUNDS WERE REPORTED UNTIL THE TIME OF IMPACT. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED APPROXIMATELY 1 1/2 MILES SOUTHWEST FROM THE AIRPORT. ONE WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE PILOT HAD OBTAINED A TELEPHONE WEATHER BRIEFING PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. A CHECK OF FAA FLIGHT SERVICE FACILITIES RECORDS DID NOT IDENTIFY A RECORD OF THE BRIEFING GIVEN TO THE PILOT. TWO WITNESSES NEAR THE ACCIDENT SITE ESTIMATED THE BASE OF THE CLOUDS TO HAVE BEEN APPROXIMATELY 150 FEET AGL AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, WITH THE VISIBILITY LESS THAN 3 MILES DUE TO FOG.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.