LAX97FA142

The pilot was operating under visual flight rules when the airplane collided with mountainous terrain during dark night conditions. The accident site is in a pass through which a major interstate highway traverses. The highway was on the left, or pilot's side of the airplane, and the high intervening terrain was on the right side of the airplane. The airplane struck the sloping terrain with its right wing and right side of the fuselage first. Weather observation stations surrounding the accident site were reporting cloud layers at and above the accident site elevation. No preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures were noted during the wreckage examination.

History of the Flight

On March 31, 1997, at an unknown time, a Cessna P210N, N3894P, collided with mountainous terrain about 4 miles southwest of Corona, California. The airplane was destroyed and the certificated airline transport pilot/owner and passenger received fatal injuries. The airplane was being operated by the pilot/owner as a personal flight when the accident occurred. The flight is presumed to have originated from Long Beach, California, about 20 minutes before the accident. The pilot's destination could not be determined. There was no record found of a flight plan being filed or pilot weather briefing.

The airplane was not reported missing or overdue. Two U.S. Marine Corps helicopters discovered the accident site while on a training mission on the northern slopes of Sierra Mountain on April 4, 1997.

Pilot Information

The pilot held an airline transport pilot certificate that was issued on November 16, 1967, with an airplane rating for single engine land, and commercial pilot privileges for multiengine land. The most recent first class medical certificate was issued to the pilot on February 1, 1996, and contained the limitation that correcting lenses for distant vision be worn and that corrective lenses for near vision be in his possession while exercising the privileges of his airman certificate.

Only one of the pilot's personal flight records was recovered. The aeronautical experience listed in this report was obtained from a review of that personal record and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airmen records on file in the Airman and Medical Records Center located in Oklahoma City.

The pilot's total aeronautical experience consists of about 9,476 hours, of which 185 were accrued in the Cessna P210. The logbook lists a total of 18 and 4 hours, respectively, flown in the preceding 90 and 30 days prior to the accident.

Aircraft Information

The airplane was manufactured in June 1978 and had accumulated at least 2593.2 hours. The airplane information reviewed by the Safety Board was provided by the repair station that last worked on the airplane, and from copies of the last engine and airframe logbooks.

The airplane maintenance records indicated an annual inspection was accomplished January 2, 1997, at 2568.0 tachometer hours, about 25.2 tachometer hours before the accident. The maintenance records also revealed that the most recent maintenance was accomplished on March 18, 1997, 1.3 tachometer hours before the accident. After the maintenance the airplane was returned to service.

A Teledyne Continental Motors (TCM) TSIO-520-P engine, serial number 513073 was installed in the airframe on at the time of manufacturer. A different engine, serial number 236438R, was in the airplane at the time of the accident. The records reflected the engine was installed on the airframe on October 27, 1989, at tachometer hour meter time of 1,669.5. The engine was "top" overhauled prior to installation. TCM records indicate the installed engine was factory remanufactured on December 1, 1983. There was no record found indicating the use of the engine from the remanufactured date to the date the engine was installed in the accident airplane. A major overhaul was completed on June 4, 1992, at 2178.8 tachometer hours. There was no further record found of any engine overhaul after June 4, 1992.

Meteorological Information

According to a local rancher who lives within a mile of the accident site at the Hidden Springs Ranch, there was weather moving through the area on weekend of March 29, 1997. The closest weather reporting station is located about 7 nautical miles north of the accident site at the Chino Airport (CNO). A second weather reporting station is located 16 miles west of the accident site at the Fullerton Airport (FUL).

At 0658, March 31, 1997, the CNO air traffic control tower (ATCT) made its first weather observation. The weather observer reported 7 statute miles visibility, and a broken layer of clouds at 3,000 feet above ground level (agl). The elevation of the CNO is listed at 650 feet msl.

At 2046, March 30, 1997, the CNO ATCT made its last weather observation. The weather observer reported 7 statute miles visibility, and an overcast layer of clouds at 3,000 agl.

The Safety Board reviewed CNO routine aviation weather reports (METAR) for the period from 1540 March 30 to 1450 March 31. The sky condition reported either scattered, broken, or overcast sky conditions ranging from 2,500 to 5,000 feet agl during the period.

At 0847, March 31, 1997, FUL ATCT made its first weather observation of the day. The weather observer reported 7 statute miles visibility; a scattered layer of clouds at 1,500 feet agl; a broken layer at 4,000 feet agl; and overcast at 6,000 feet agl. The elevation of the FUL is listed at 96 feet msl.

The FUL METAR's for the period from 0647 March 30 to 1447 March 31 were reviewed. The sky condition reported either scattered, broken, or overcast sky conditions ranging from 1,500 to 6,000 feet agl during the period.

Wreckage and Impact Information

The airplane's wreckage was found at 33 degrees 51 minutes 39.9 seconds north latitude, and 117 degrees 39 minutes 36.8 seconds west longitude. The elevation of the initial impact point is about 2,300 feet above sea level (msl). The accident site is in the Cleveland National Forest above the Hidden Springs Ranch, and is bounded by Sierra peak to the south and Interstate 60 to the north. The wreckage path extended about 400 feet on a 57-degree magnetic azimuth. The accident site is in a pass through which a major interstate highway traverses. The highway was on the north side of the wreckage path and the high intervening terrain was on the south side of the path.

Two ground scars that formed an inverted "Y" marked the initial impact point. The first ground scar corresponded to the width of the fuselage and was about 211 feet long on an 45-degree magnetic azimuth. The ground scar stopped at the top of a spur. There were parts of the airplane spread along the ground scar, and most notable were two of the three propeller blades and fractured portions of the propeller hub. The airplane's cabin door was also found separated from the fuselage adjacent to the ground scar.

The second scar was upslope from the first ground scar and was about 16 feet to the right. The scar was about 18 feet long and intercepted the first ground scar about 10 feet from where it started. Fragmented portions of the airplane's right wing tip were found near the ground scar. About 6 feet of the outboard right wing was separated and found adjacent to the scar about 50 feet from the fuselage initial impact point.

The airplane's main wreckage was found about 150 feet beyond the spur in the bottom of a steep ravine. The main wreckage included the fuselage aft of the firewall, the left wing, and empennage. There was no evidence of the airplane striking the steep eastern slope of the ravine except at the main wreckage's point of rest. There was a debris field on the ravine's eastern slope. Some of the airplane's cockpit instruments, engine accessories, pieces of the aircraft battery, papers, and fuselage insulation were found in this debris field.

The engine was separated from the firewall and was found about 50 feet downslope in the ravine from the fuselage. Both magnetos, the starter, and oil filter were broken off. There was evidence of the engine striking the adjacent western slope of the ravine above the wreckage and then tumbling downslope. There was a ground scar above the airplane's main wreckage directly above the airplane firewall. Engine debris was traced through broken dense vegetation from the ground scar to the engine point of rest. The engine's turbocharger was found in the debris path. There was evidence of a postimpact fire around the turbocharger. The grass next to the turbocharger was bur