LAX95FA217

The pilot had rented the airplane for an early evening flight in the area of the Colorado river and mohave desert. The wreckage was subsequently found in the mohave desert, where it had impacted mountainous terrain at the 2,100-foot level of a 2,695-foot mountain surrounded by relatively level terrain. The airplane was in level cruise flight on a magnetic heading of 280 degrees during impact. The setting sun was at 6.0 degrees above the horizon on a magnetic bearing of 280.9 degrees.

History of flight

On June 18, 1995, about 1920 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N739KJ, was destroyed during an in-flight collision with mountainous terrain near Vidal Junction, California. The aircraft was operated by Century Air Terminal, Inc., of Lake Havasu City, Arizona, and rented by the pilot for a local area personal flight. The pilot was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated at Lake Havasu about 1840 hours on the day of the accident.

According to the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (AFRCC) at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia, the first emergency locator transmitter signal received by a satellite from the accident location was about 1920 hours.

The airplane wreckage was subsequently found the next day at the 2,100-foot level of the 2,695-foot-high Savahia Peak.

Personnel information

On May 31, 1995, the pilot went to the operator for a checkout in a rental aircraft. The checkout and biennial flight review were satisfactory. The pilot rented from the operator two additional times during the month of June prior to the accident flight. The pilot reported a total flight time of 1,523 hours with no flight time in the past 6 months, at his May 16, 1995, flight physical.

Aircraft information

According to the operator, the pilot rented the airplane with full fuel for the local flight. The operator estimated the departure time to be about 1840 hours. The Hobbs hour meter was 0167.8 at the time of checkout, and indicated 0168.6 at the accident site.

Wreckage and impact information

The wreckage was examined at the accident site. An estimated heading of the airplane at the time of impact was measured to be 280 degrees magnetic. The entire airplane was accounted for at the accident site.

Symmetrical chordwise accordioning of the wings leading edges was noted. Ground scars indicated a near wings level attitude at impact. Flight control continuity was established during the postaccident examination of the airplane.

Postaccident examination of the airframe, systems, and engine did not reveal any preimpact failures or malfunctions.

Meteorological information

According to a National Transportation Safety Board Sun and Moon program, at the time of the accident the sun was 6.0 degrees above the horizon on a magnetic azimuth of 280.9 degrees.

Medical and pathological information

The San Bernardino County Coroner's Office performed an autopsy on the pilot. The cause of death was attributed to multiple traumatic injuries. There were no preexisting conditions noted that would have affected the decedent's ability to pilot an aircraft.

A request for toxicological analysis by the FAA Civil Aeromedical Institute in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, was made to the deputy coroner and an FAA toxicological kit was provided. The attending medical examiner failed to process the request for toxicological analysis.

Additional information

The wreckage was released to the insurance company representative on June 30, 1995.