Piper PA-12 N7586H

Summary

On 7 March 2000 at about 01:20 local time, a Piper PA-12 registered N7586H was involved in an accident near Cima, 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

7 March 2000 at 01:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Cima, California, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Piper PA-12

Registration

N7586H

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

North Las Vegas → Chino

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

LAX00FA122

1 person died.

In-flight collision with terrain for undetermined reasons.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilots of the flight of two aircraft agreed by radio to break the formation and fly different routes around a mountain ridge and then rejoin on the other side. The wingman never rejoined the leader. The wreckage of the wingman's airplane was located in a wide, open, desert valley, and impacted the level desert floor on a heading opposite the course to the intended destination. The wreckage distribution showed a steep flight path angle at impact. No evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction was found. The flight leader was confidant there was no adverse weather along that portion of the route and, although the accident occurred near twilight, there was sufficient daylight for visual flight. The flight leader also reported that the 36-year-old pilot appeared healthy and well-rested before takeoff.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.