Cessna 310F N5834X

Summary

On 22 April 2001 at about 18:08 local time, a Cessna 310F registered N5834X was involved in an accident near Carmel Valley, 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

22 April 2001 at 18:08

Classification

Accident

Location

Carmel Valley, California, United States

Coordinates

36.3892, -121.6503

Aircraft

Cessna 310F

Registration

N5834X

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Monterey → Carson City

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX01FA152

1 person died.

The in-flight loss of control of the airplane in instrument meteorological conditions for undetermined reasons.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During an instrument departure climbout to VFR conditions on top, the airplane impacted a coastal mountain slope in near vertical, diving flight. Radar data showed that the initial climbout was on course; however, upon reaching the initial navigational fix, the airplane ceased climbing and turned in the wrong direction toward rising terrain. The pilot reported no difficulty and his voice was calm. The engine sound, audible in the background of the communication, was smooth and synchronized. The air traffic controller issued a terrain warning and instructed the pilot to reverse course immediately if not in VFR conditions. In the next 14 seconds the aircraft climbed 400 feet and then disappeared from radar. The airplane's instruments and switches were destroyed by impact.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.