Piper PA-23-150 N1260P

Summary

On 3 March 1995 at about 17:38 local time, a Piper PA-23-150 registered N1260P, operated by Anthony W. Shanks, was involved in an accident near Oceanside, California, United States. 4 people were on board and 4 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

3 March 1995 at 17:38

Classification

Accident

Location

Oceanside, California, United States

Coordinates

33.2001, -117.3494

Aircraft

Piper PA-23-150

Registration

N1260P

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Anthony W. Shanks

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Santa Ana → San Diego

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX95FA129

4 people died.

THE PILOT'S INTENTIONAL VFR FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER. THE LOW CEILING WAS A FACTOR.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT CALLED FSS AT 0309 AND REQUESTED A WEATHER BRIEFING FROM NORTHERN CALIFORNIA TO SANTA ANA ONLY. THE FLIGHT DEPARTED ABOUT 0530 AND FLEW TO SANTA ANA TO PICK UP TWO PASSENGERS. THE WEATHER WAS MARGINAL VFR CONDITIONS WITH LOW CEILINGS AND COASTAL MOUNTAINS OBSCURED BY CLOUDS AND RAIN. THE FLIGHT DEPARTED SNA AT 0921 VFR EN ROUTE TO SAN DIEGO AND MEXICO. THE FLIGHT ADVISED APPROACH THAT THEY WERE VFR CLIMBING TO 3,500 TO STAY BELOW THE CLOUD DECK. ABOUT 3 MINUTES LATER THE PILOT STATED 'GOING TO LEVEL OFF HERE.' RADAR INDICATED 1,300 FEET MSL. ABOUT 5 MINUTES LATER RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST. APPROACH ADVISED THE PILOT TO 'ATTEMPT CONTACT LONG RIFLE (USMC RESTRICTED AIRSPACE) ON 132.2', WHICH WAS THE WRONG FREQUENCY FOR THE RESTRICTED AIRSPACE. THE PILOT CALLED THE WRONG FREQUENCY TWICE AND WAS COVERED BY OTHER AIRCRAFT AT ANOTHER FACILITY. THE WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED ON THE USMC MILITARY RESERVATION ON A RIDGE AT ABOUT 1,475 FEET MSL.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.