Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Mt. Baldy, California 91759
Sunday, October 2, 1988 17:15 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PLT HAD PREVIOUSLY FLOWN IN THE AREA OF HILLS & VALLEYS WHICH RANGED IN ALTITUDE FROM 2200 TO OVER 8000 FEET MSL. SOME OF THE VALLEY FLOORS ROSE RAPIDLY, WERE SURROUNDED BY INCREASINGLY TALLER MOUNTIANS AND WERE SHAPED LIKE A BOX CANYON. DURING THE PLEASURE FLIGHT IN VFR CONDITIONS THE PLT & HIS PAX ENTERED A BOX-LIKE CANYON. THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH 43 DEGREE UPSLOPING TERRAIN OF THE 4,000-FT MSL CANYON WALL.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

PILOT'S IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISION AND ALTITUDE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/2/1988
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1715
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City MT. BALDY
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 91759
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 10
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1655 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 162
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 PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Partial Obscuration
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 3
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 16
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 260
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 12
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) 2349
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 3 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 850
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 39063
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:13PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8065R
NTSB Number LAX89FA006
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 None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BEECH
Aircraft Model A24R
Aircraft Series Identifier A24R
Aircraft Serial Number MC-56
Certified Max Gross Weight 2750
Aircraft Category Airplane
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 1 1988 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 55
Airframe Hours 1410
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PRESTON,CUMMINGS & C. CUMMINGS
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1214 E GLADSTON
Aircraft Owner City GLENDORA
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 91740
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name THEODORE & CATHERINE CUMMINGS
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 12650 FERN AVENUE
Operator City CHINO
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 91710
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 CCB
Departure City UPLAND
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1700
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --