# Accident 20080202011779A: Cessna 340A, Morongo Resrvt, CA, February 2, 2008

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 2, 2008, 14:40 local time
- Place: Morongo Resrvt, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.0003° N, 116.7789° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0003&lon=-116.7789&mi=10
- Aircraft: N354TJ, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N354TJ-2014-12-17) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 340A (registry code 2076405, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-340a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental TSIO-520 series (registry code 17040, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 340A
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 4
- Pilot flight hours: 0 total, 0 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX08FA058](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08FA058) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080202011779A

## Narrative

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

(-23) N354TJ DEPARTED BERMUDA DUNES AIRPORT IN ROUTE TO CHINO AIRPORT. THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED AT 1440 PST. THE AIRCRAFT HAD FLIGHT FOLLOWING BUT WAS TERMINATED EAST OF BANNING. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED MOUNTAINS NORTH OF MORONGO RESERVATION. THE AREA IS EXTREMELY RUGGED, DENSE TREES AND BUSHES AND WE COULD NOT LOCATE WINGS, PROPELLERS OR MOST OF THE FUSELAGE DURING SEARCH ON 02-10-2008. SECOND SEARCH AND REMOVAL LOCATED WINGS, PROPELLERS, FUSELAGE PARTS AND MUCH OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT HIT BELOW THE PEAK OF THE MOUNTAIN IN THREE LOCATIONS. VERY LARGE DEBRIS FIELD. AIRCRAFT PIECES IN TREES AND BUSHES. THE COCKPIT WAS DESTROYED AND SCATTERED, CABIN WAS DESTROYED AND SCATTERED WINGS CAME OFF, TAIL CAME OFF.

## 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 LAX08FA058](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08FA058), Feb 2, 2008: Cessna 340A (N354TJ), Cabazon, CA, destroyed, 4 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions and failure to maintain terrain clearance while en route. Contributing to the accident were clouds and mountainous…

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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