# NTSB LAX01LA205: Cessna 337G, N337GD, Temecula, CA, May 27, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 27, 2001, 12:55 local (19:55 UTC) - Place: Temecula, CA - Location: 33.4936° N, 117.1484° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Temecula, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4936&lon=-117.1484&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 5, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flt Stnds Dist Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 52456 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX01LA205 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52456/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA205 ## Probable cause The pilot's intentional flight into adverse weather while operating under visual flight rules, his failure to maintain a cruising altitude sufficient to remain clear of power transmission wires, and his failure to maintain a visual lookout sufficient to see and avoid the power transmission wires. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, cruise - flight into adverse weather - intentional, pilot in command (cause) - object - wire,transmission(marked) - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis While en route, following a roadway through a mountain valley and operating under visual flight rules in conditions of low ceiling and poor visibility, the airplane impacted marked power transmission wires approximately 120 feet above ground level. The airplane's windshield was broken out, the cabin ceiling and doorposts were deformed, and a wing strut was damaged. The pilot continued the flight to his intended destination, which was the nearest airport. Weather at the nearest reporting point, 14 miles distant and approximately 1,500 feet lower elevation, reported scattered clouds at 1,000 feet agl and overcast ceiling at 1,500 feet agl. ## Factual narrative On May 27, 2001, at 1255 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 337G, N337GD, sustained substantial damage when it impacted and severed an electrical power transmission wire about 5 miles south of Temecula, California. The owner/pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot and one passenger were not injured. The personal cross-country flight departed Brown Field, San Diego, California, about 1235, and was destined for the French Valley Airport, Temecula. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the airplane impacted power transmission wires approximately 120 feet above ground level, approximately 2 miles east of Interstate highway 15. The wires cross the highway about 9 miles south of the French Valley airport. The top (skyline) wire was marked; however, the wire the aircraft severed was lower. A person who was present in the area at the time told the inspector that conditions of low clouds and poor visibility prevailed. Inspection of the airplane revealed the windshield was broken out, the cabin ceiling and a doorpost were bent, and a wing strut was damaged. The inspector located a GPS antenna skin doubler on the ground near the severed wire. He was able to match the piece to damage on the aircraft. A Sempra Energy Company employee told the Safety Board investigator that the power interruption occurred at 1255. In his statement to the Safety Board, the pilot reported he was en route from Brown Field to French Valley "in VFR [visual flight rules] conditions." When approximately 10 miles south of French Valley and with the airport in sight, there was a loud bang, after which the windshield was broken and the cabin ceiling was broken open. The pilot continued the flight to his intended destination at French Valley. The nearest weather reporting point was at MCAS Camp Pendleton (KNFG), 14 miles south-southwest, and approximately 1,500 feet lower elevation. At 1255, their reported weather was scattered clouds at 1,000 feet agl and overcast ceiling at 1,500 feet agl. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N337GD](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N337GD), registered now, S/N 33701921, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 337G - Registry model: [Cessna 337G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-337g) (registry code 2075730) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-360-series) (registry code 17025, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 33701921 - Airframe hours: 1166 - Engines: Continental IO-360 210 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Donald J. Vierstra - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 2, 2000, 101 hours before - Departed: SDM, SAN DIEGO, CA - Destination: F70, MURRIETA/TEMECU, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review March 14, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 1,907 total, 778 in this make and model, 1,907 as pilot in command, 53 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 5 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.89 inHg - Observed at: KNFG, 14 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20010527014309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010527014309A), May 27, 2001: Cessna 337G, Temecula, CA, Substantial damage. (.19)On may 27, 2001, at 1255 hours pacific daylight time, a Cessna 337G, N337GD, sustained substantial damage when it impacted electrical power transmission… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.