Cessna 172N N3548E

Summary

On 7 December 1997 at about 17:45 local time, a Cessna 172N registered N3548E, operated by Vincent J. Kostovny, was involved in an accident near Lytle Creek, 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

7 December 1997 at 17:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Lytle Creek, California, United States

Coordinates

34.2508, -117.5399

Aircraft

Cessna 172N

Registration

N3548E

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Vincent J. Kostovny

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Upland → Calexico

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX98FA052

2 people died.

the non-instrument rated pilot's inadvertent VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), and subsequent loss of aircraft control, due to spatial disorientation. Factors relating to the accident were: the adverse weather conditions (low ceiling and fog), and the pilot's lack of instrument experience.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The non-instrument rated pilot obtained a preflight weather briefing for a cross-country flight. About 30 minutes after the approximate departure time, witnesses in a mountainous area heard the sound of an aircraft impacting the terrain. The terrain was obscured in low clouds, and ground and air searchers were hampered by the clouds. The aircraft had descended into the mountainous terrain at a steep angle. The aircraft was fragmented, but all components were accounted for at the site. Postaccident examination of the aircraft and engine was made, but no preexisting condition or failed control system was found that would have caused the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.