- Date
- April 3, 2002, 21:05 local (Apr 4, 2002, 05:05 UTC)
- Place
- Lake Elsinore, CA
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N69000Cessna 152
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night
- Status
- Completed · report November 25, 2003
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA FSDO
- FAA report
- 20020403004959A
- Case key
- 54465
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot lost awareness of his location and collided with trees. Factors in the accident were the mountainous terrain and night conditions.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The airplane collided with terrain while in cruise flight. The pilot completed three takeoff and landings at Long Beach, and departed for the French Valley Airport at Murrieta, California. He pilot followed the 91 Freeway eastbound and turned southbound to follow Interstate 15. As he started to climb from 2,600 feet, he obtained the Automated Weather Observation System (AWOS) information for French Valley. He noticed that he was off course, but was unable to see any ground visual references. He turned on the landing and taxi lights and tuned in two VOR (very high frequency omni-directional radio range) stations to try and determine his position. He was scanning for ground references and suddenly noted trees in his flight path. He applied full forward throttle and started a climb; however, the airplane collided with trees on mountainous terrain. The occupants were rescued the following morning.
Factual narrative
On April 3, 2002, about 2105 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 152, N69000, collided with terrain while in cruise flight near Lake Elsinore, California. The private pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot and one pilot rated passenger sustained minor injuries; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal cross-country flight departed Long Beach, California, about 2000. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.
The pilot stated that he stayed in the landing pattern at Long Beach, and completed three takeoff and landings. He departed for the French Valley Airport at Murrieta, California, and then he planned to return to Long Beach.
The pilot said he followed the 91 Freeway eastbound and turned southbound to follow Interstate 15. As he started to climb from 2,600 feet, he obtained the Automated Weather Observation System (AWOS) information for French Valley. He noticed that he was off course, but was unable to see any ground visual references.
The pilot turned on the landing and taxi lights and tuned in two VOR (very high frequency omni-directional radio range) stations to try and determine his position. He was scanning for ground references and suddenly noted trees in his flight path. He applied full forward throttle and started a climb; however, the airplane collided with trees on mountainous terrain. The occupants were rescued the following morning.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N69000
- Reported as
- Cessna 152
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15282423
- Airframe hours
- 8,070
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235-N2C, 108 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Dariush Javadi
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 3, 2001 · 90 hours before
- Departed
- LGB · Long Beach, CA
- Destination
- F70 · Murrieta, CA
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 43
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Last flight review
- April 14, 2001
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 284 total · 274 in this make and model · 150 as pilot in command · 64 in the last 90 days · 12 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night
- Wind
- 300° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 52 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.04 inHg
- Observed at
- RAL, 13 nm away
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 19, 2003, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 326 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.