19980223001739A

Flew into mountainside in IMC conditions and severe turbulence. (.4)on February 23, 1998, about 1100 hours pacific standard time (PST), a Beech A36, N3103W, collided with mountainous terrain in the san gorgonio wilderness area about 11.3 nautical miles south-southeast of Big Bear city, California. The airplane was destroyed and the commercial pilot and passenger received fatal injuries. The airplane was being operated by the pilot as a personal flight under 14 CFR part 91 when the accident occurred. The flight originated from the Big Bear City Airport about 0930, and was destined for carlsbad, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at Big Bear City Airport at the time of departure. There was no flight plan filed for the flight. A pilot at the Big Bear City Airport witnessed the accident airplane depart the airport. The pilot's attention was drawn to the accident airplane because of deteriorating weather conditions. The pilot observed the accident airplane takeoff from runway 26, turn east over the airport, and climb to approximately 9,000 feet above mean sea level (MSL). The witness last saw the airplane turn southeast towards palm springs, California. The pilot also indicated there were strong winds blowing from the west associated with a frontal system. The pilot also observed clouds south of the airport with bases 500 feet above ground level (AGL). Concerned family members reported the airplane overdue. An emergency locator transmitter beacon (ELT) was also heard emanating from the san gorgonio wilderness area. Marginal weather conditions existed in the area, which impeded the search. The san bernardino sheriff's department aviation division located the accident airplane about 1.5 nautical miles southeast of san gorgonio peak on February 24, 1998, at 1050. The accident site elevation was approximately 10,300 feet MSL. Recorded radar data was obtained from the federal aviation administration (FAA) los angeles air route traffic control center (ARTCC) in the form of a national track analysis program printout and is attached to the report. A 1200 code secondary beacon target with mode c altitude readout was observed in the vicinity of the Big Bear airport coinciding with the witnesses reported departure time. Two different radar antennae sites tracked the target. One was san pedro, located 77 nautical miles southwest of the accident site on a bearing of 240 degrees at an elevation of 1,400 feet MSL. The second site was Mt. Laguna, located 79 nautical miles southeast of the accident site on a bearing of 150 degrees at an elevation of 6,200 feet MSL. A primary radar target was displayed about 2 miles east of the Big Bear airport approximately 0945. The target was tracked in a northeasterly direction from the airport until 0953, when secondary radar received a reply from the target transponder, which was identified as a 1200 code with a mode c indication of 8,400 feet MSL. At 0954, the target began moving in a wide arc from a northeasterly heading to a southwesterly heading. The target moved in a clockwise arc for approximately 10 miles. During this time the mode c report indicated an average altitude of 8,800 feet MSL. The radar target was lost at 1029. The last recorded location of the target was 10.78 miles on a bearing of 066 degrees from the accident site. Mt. San jacinto at 10,804 feet MSL is between the Mt. Laguna radar site and the target's last known position. Additionally, MT. San gorgonio, at 11,499 feet MSL, is located between the radar site at san pedro and the last known position. (-23) N3103W, A36, departed Big Bear airport, CA, February 23 at 1730 PST, enroute to carlsbad, CA. The aircraft failed to arrive at carlsbad, CA and became the subject of a family concerned alnot. Wreckage was located on the san gregorino peak at the 11,100 foot level on February 24. The aircraft was destroyed by fire. The two occupants were fatally injured.