# Accident 19980505008409A: Beech G33, Rialto, CA, May 5, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 5, 1998, 09:07 local time
- Place: Rialto, CA
- Airport: Rialto Municipal/Miro Field Airport
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.2494° N, 117.2991° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2494&lon=-117.2991&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9471Q, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9471Q-2017-05-15) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Beech G33 (registry code 1151435, https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-g33) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental I0-470 series (registry code 17027, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH G33
- Reported engine: CONT IO470N
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 4,000 total, 700 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX98FA153](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98FA153) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980505008409A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

OPERATING IN IMC VFR STRUCK MOUNTAINSIDE CLIMBING TO CRUISE. (.4) WHILE FLIGHT FOLLOWING, THE PILOT WAS ADVISED BY THE CONTROLLER THAT HE WAS CLEARED FOR 'UNRESTRICTED DESCENT' AND WAS GIVEN THE CURRENT ALTIMETER SETTING. AFTER THE TRANSMISSION, THE PILOT ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE WERE CLOUDS IN HIS VICINITY BUT BEGAN A DESCENT TOWARD THE DESTINATION AIRPORT WITH THE GEAR EXTENDED. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH UTILITY LINES LOCATED ON A RIDGE THAT CROSSED THE PILOT'S ROUTE OF FLIGHT.  AFTER THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED BELOW THE BASE OF RADAR COVERAGE, THE CONTROLLER ADVISED THAT RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST; HOWEVER, THE PILOT DID NOT RESPOND.  FURTHER ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT THE PILOT WERE UNSUCCESSFUL.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH NAVIGATIONAL RADIOS THAT WERE COMPATIBLE WITH THE PUBLISHED APPROACH AT THE DESTINATION, AND REPORTED WEATHER WAS ABOVE PUBLISHED MINIMUMS; HOWEVER, THE INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT DID NOT REQUEST A CLEARANCE NOR WERE INSTRUMENT CHARTS FOUND AT THE ACCIDENT SITE. VISIBILITY AT THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS REPORTED ABOUT 100 TO 200 FEET IN MIST WITH HEAVY PRECIPITATION AND CLOUDS AT TREE TOP LEVEL.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX98FA153](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98FA153), May 5, 1998: Beech G33 (N9471Q), Crestline, CA, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: the pilot's intentional flight into known instrument weather conditions while operating VFR.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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