20020704022089A

(.19) On July 4, 2002, at 1230 pacific daylight time, a Cessna 310I twin engine airplane, N8145M, was destroyed when it impacted terrain during a forced landing after takeoff from the brackett field airport, la verne, California, near san dimas, California. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. The commercial pilot and his pilot-rated passenger sustained fatal injuries. Two individuals on the ground received fatal injuries and nine individuals on the ground sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 code of federal regulations part 91 personal flight. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. Air traffic controllers at brackett field reported that the pilot made 3 consecutive mayday calls during the initial climb-out from runway 26L; however, the pilot did not indicate the nature of the emergency. The controllers observed the airplane "not climbing" before the airplane descended behind trees. The airplane came to rest along the shoreline of lake puddingstone in the frank g. bonelli park, near san dimas. Park officials estimate that 200-400 people were at the lake near thetime of the accident. Witnesses at the lake observed the airplane in the left bank, traveling approximately 30 feet above and parallel to the shoreline, before impacting two trees and a picnic area. The witnesses reported that they did not hear the engines running. Initial examination of the airframe accounted for all primary structural elements and flight control surfaces of the airplane. The flight control system was examined and continuity was established to all control surfaces. The flaps were determined to be in the retracted position and the landing gear was extended. The left propeller assembly remained attached to its engine, and both propeller blades were bent aft and did not display leading edge damage. The right propeller assembly separated from its engine and the engine separated from the nacelle. There was no evidence of a catastrophic failure of either engine. (-23) on July 4, 2002, N8145M, a Cessna 310-I was destroyed when the pilot attempted a forced landing along the shoreline of lake puddingstone near san dimas, CA. An air traffic controller stated that following the aircraft's departure from runway 26L at brackett field airport in la verne, californi a, he noticed the aircraft was not gaining altitude normally. He heard the pilot made three mayday calls on the radio and observed the aircraft disappear behind the trees. Witnesses at the lake stated they observed the aircraft travelling parallel to the shoreline in a left-hand bank approximately 30 feet above the water. The aircraft struck a tree with the left wing and careened into a picnic area. Two people on the ground were fatally injured and nine others received serious injuries. The pilot and one passenger were fatally injured. An inspection of the aircraft revealed the landing gear was in the down position and the flaps were retracted. Both main fuel tanks ruptured on impact and separated from the wing tips. No positive determination regarding the quantity or typeof fuel in these tanks could be made. However, I suspect the tanks were nearly full as they appeared to have burst open due to the compression of a large volume of liquid. The auxiliary fuel tanks were both full and contained the proper grade of fuel. Both engine gascolators contained fuel and no evidence of fuel contamination was noted. The left engine showed little signs of damage and was attached to the airplane. The left engine propeller blades did not show damage consistent with an engine developing power on impact. The pitch angles of the left engine propeller blades were not in the feather position. The right engine was torn from its mounting and located approximately 50 feet forward of the wreckage. The crankshaft was bent and the crankcase was split open. The right engine propeller hub was fractured on impact causing the propeller blades to separate from the hub. Only one of the two right engine propeller blades were recovered. There was no apparent damage to the propeller blade.