Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Los Angeles, California 90036
Friday, June 6, 2003 15:55 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During the en route climb-out, the airplane entered the base of an overcast cloud layer, and then descended out of the clouds in a spinning, steep nose down attitude that continued to impact with a 3-story apartment building. A post-impact fire destroyed the airplane. Earlier that day, the pilot received three weather briefings from the FSS. Each briefer indicated that AIRMETS were in effect for IFR conditions and mountain obscuration, and advised the pilot to call back after 1300 for updated weather. During the second briefing, the briefer stated that VFR flight was not recommended. On the last briefing, the briefer indicated that the weather conditions were marginal towards the east with at least 3 miles visibility. The pilot inquired if he could legally fly, to which the briefer replied that yes, he was legal to fly, but that the weather conditions were marginal. After takeoff, the pilot asked the controller if he knew if the weather was clearing towards the east. The controller stated that it was not clear towards the east. The pilot then said that he was going to fly towards the east, and find a break or hole in the clouds to "pop up through." Controllers received no further transmissions from the pilot on any frequency. Cloud bases in the area for a 12-hour period ranged from 2,200 feet to 3,100 feet overcast, with tops ranging from 3,800 feet to 4,000 feet agl. The pilot did not hold an instrument rating. The pilot and passengers had been at the airport for at least 8 hours waiting for weather conditions to clear. One passenger was going to be dropped off at Las Vegas, and the pilot and remaining two remaining passengers were going to continue to Sun Valley, Idaho. Post accident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no mechanical anomalies.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's in-flight loss of control due to spatial disorientation, and failure to maintain airspeed, which resulted in a stall/spin. Also causal was the pilot's disregard of the weather information provided and his attempt to continue VFR flight into IMC. A factor in the accident was the pilot's self-induced pressure to complete the flight.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/6/2003
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1555
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Los Angeles
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 90036
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 340409N
Event Location Longitude 1182104W
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 Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1551 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 210
Weather Observation Facility ID SMO
Elevation of weather observation facility 189
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 3100
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.93
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 1
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries 7
Injury Total Fatal 5
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 7
Injury Total All 12
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 15549
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Jun 6 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1600
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Apr 20 2004 9:54AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office WP-LAX-FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1856P
NTSB Number LAX03FA182
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Beech
Aircraft Model A36TC
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number EA-271
Certified Max Gross Weight 3600
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 Nov 26 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 2888
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JEFFREY SIEGEL
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City SANTA MONICA
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 90404
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 SMO
Departure City SANTA MONICA
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1545
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code LAS
Destination City LAS VEGAS
Destination State NV
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Climb - to cruise
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Apr 8 2004 2:09PM
User who most recently changed record COOS
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --