# NTSB LAX03LA096: Cessna 310, N5202A, Palmdale, CA, February 24, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 23, 2003, 18:00 local (Feb 24, 2003, 02:00 UTC) - Place: Palmdale, CA - Coordinates: 34.746112, -118.220558 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7461&lon=-118.2206&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 1, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 56541 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX03LA096 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56541/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA096 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate terrain/obstacle clearance altitude. Factors in the accident were the low ceilings and the dusk light illumination. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, cruise - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor) - light condition - dusk (contributing factor) - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - object - wire,transmission ## Analysis The airplane collided with powerlines while diverting to an alternate airport. The pilot stated that the weather conditions deteriorated along his route of flight. He contacted the Flight Service Station (FSS) via radio and was advised the ceiling in Soledad Canyon (the accident location) was about 3,500 feet. The elevation at Soledad Pass on the Los Angeles VFR Terminal Area Chart is 3,225 feet mean sea level (msl). As the pilot entered the canyon, dusk lighting conditions existed and he felt ceiling conditions were lower than those forecast. He decided to divert to an alternate airport instead of continuing on into the canyon. The pilot turned toward the airport and the airplane impacted the powerlines. The airplane then landed at the alternate airport uneventfully. Post accident examination of the airplane revealed damage to both propellers, the nose gear door, and the left tip tank. The closest official weather observation station was reporting a broken ceiling at 3,600 feet, with higher layers. ## Factual narrative On February 23, 2003, at 1800 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 310, N5202A, collided with powerlines near Palmdale, California, while diverting to William J. Fox Airfield, Lancaster, California. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 for the personal cross-country flight. The instrument rated private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage. Day visual meteorological conditions existed during the flight and no flight plan had been filed. The flight originated at Henderson Airport (HND), Henderson, Nevada, about 1700, and was scheduled to terminate at Whiteman Airport (WHP), Los Angeles, California. The pilot stated that the weather conditions deteriorated along his route of flight. He contacted the Flight Service Station (FSS) via radio and was advised the ceiling in Soledad Canyon (the accident location) was about 3,500 feet. The elevation at Soledad Pass on the Los Angeles VFR Terminal Area Chart is 3,225 feet mean sea level (msl). As the pilot entered the canyon, dusk lighting conditions existed and he felt ceiling conditions were lower than those forecast. He decided to divert to an alternate airport (William J. Fox Airfield). The pilot turned toward the airport and the airplane impacted the powerlines. The airplane then landed at the alternate airport uneventfully. Post accident examination of the airplane revealed damage to both propellers, the nose gear door, and the left tip tank. The automated surface observing system (ASOS) issued for Van Nuys Airport (VNY), Van Nuys, California, reported the following conditions at 1751: wind 170 degrees at 5 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; ceiling broken 3,600 feet, overcast 10,000 feet; temperature 13 Celsius; dew point 9 Celsius; and altimeter 29.77 inHg. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5202A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5202A-2018-01-04), registration cancelled 2018-01-04, S/N 35402, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 310 - Registry model: [Cessna 310](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-310) (registry code 2074202) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 35402 - Airframe hours: 5081 - Engines: Continental O-470 260 horsepower reciprocating; Continental O-470 240 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Christopher Banninger - Registered owner: Appaloosa Air, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 13, 2002, 145 hours before - Departed: KHND, Henderson, NV - Destination: KWHP, Whiteman, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review September 12, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 1,412 total, 238 in this make and model, 1,304 as pilot in command, 41 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 240° at 15 knots - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 29.72 inHg - Observed at: KWJF, 10 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 20030223002729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030223002729A), Feb 23, 2003: Cessna 310, Palmdale, CA, No damage. (.19) On February 23, 2003, at 1800 pacific standard time, a Cessna 310, N5202A, collided with power lines near Palmdale, California. Following the wire… 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.