Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Ontario, California 91761
Friday, March 22, 1996 15:24 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The non instrument rated private pilot contacted ATC while in VFR conditions on top of an overcast cloud layer and in proximity of mountains. After acknowledging instructions to maintain VFR, the pilot informed the controller that he was descending to his destination. The helicopter impacted mountainous terrain at the 4,600 foot (msl) elevation level. Weather at the nearest reporting point, 8 miles south of the accident site, included a 2,900 foot msl broken cloud layer and a 4,900 foot msl overcast cloud layer. The person who refueled the helicopter at the departure point reported that the pilot appeared anxious to get to his destination.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's decision to attempt a VFR descent into instrument meteorological conditions resulting in spatial disorientation.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/22/1996
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1524
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City ONTARIO
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 91761
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1547 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 175
Weather Observation Facility ID ONT
Elevation of weather observation facility 943
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 9
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 2000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 4
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 230
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 686
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 23 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2309
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 9:53AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Unknown
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N155T
NTSB Number LAX96FA140
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Schweizer
Aircraft Model 269C
Aircraft Series Identifier 269C
Aircraft Serial Number S1714
Certified Max Gross Weight 2050
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 3
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Oct 26 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 150
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JEFFERY S. WONG
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2660 PEPPERDALE DR.
Aircraft Owner City ROWLAND HEIGHTS
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 91748
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code L26
Departure City HESPERIA
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1500
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code POC
Destination City LA VERNE
Destination State CA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --