20150801012689A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Cessna T337G · Santa Paula, CA · August 1, 2015

Date: August 1, 2015 · 09:15 local
Place: Santa Paula, CA
Phase of flight: Climb
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N4CU
NTSB investigation: NTSBWPR15FA227
Reported as: Cessna T337G
Reported engine: Continental IO-360 series
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 1
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Commercial pilot

N4CURegistration cancelled Feb 20, 2018 · Cessna T337GS/N P337-0065 · Built 1972 Airframe modelCessna T337G Engine modelContinental IO-360 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

N4CU departed kszp during IMC with a 300 foot ceiling. The aircraft was witnessed climbing into the clouds during crosswind, to a downwind departure. The aircraft was witnessed descending below the 300 foot ceiling and continuing north east following the Santa clara river.

N4CU impacted the terrain at 1200 feet MSL on the north side of south mountain.

As the FAA filed it

N4CU DEPARTED KSZP DURING IMC WITH A 300 FOOT CEILING. THE AIRCRAFT WAS WITNESSED CLIMBING INTO THE CLOUDS DURING CROSSWIND, TO A DOWNWIND DEPARTURE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS WITNESSED DESCENDING BELOW THE 300 FOOT CEILING AND CONTINUING NORTH EAST FOLLOWING THE SANTA CLARA RIVER.

N4CU IMPACTED THE TERRAIN AT 1200 FEET MSL ON THE NORTH SIDE OF SOUTH MOUNTAIN.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB WPR15FA227Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportSanta Paula, CAThe noninstrument-rated pilot's decision to conduct a visual flight in instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into mountainous terrain.Aug 1, 2015 · Substantial damage