Corona Muni Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Corona, California 91720
Monday, December 15, 2003 6:00 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The student pilot and his passenger took off in the single engine airplane in early morning fog and low overcast, and crashed 528 yards from the departure end of the runway. The airplane was located 14 days later in the wooded marshland off of the departure end of the runway. Local weather observations reported that the visibility at the time of departure was less than one-half mile in fog, and the vertical visibility (ceiling) was 100 feet. The pilot obtained a standard weather briefing prior to departure, which included the low visibilities and ceilings. The pilot did not document any instrument flying experience. The post accident examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical abnormalities.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The student pilot's intentional VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions, and his failure to maintain aircraft control as a result of spatial disorientation.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/15/2003
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 600
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City Corona
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 91720
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 335401N
Event Location Longitude 1173644W
Event Location Airport Corona Muni
Event Location Nearest Airport ID KAJO
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 310
Airport Elevation 533
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 553 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 360
Weather Observation Facility ID KCNO
Elevation of weather observation facility 652
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 5
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Night
Lowest Ceiling Height 100
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Indefinite (V V)
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 1
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 3
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.2
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Light
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
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) 16983
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Dec 29 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1000
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Dec 28 2004 12:45PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office WP-FSDO-Riverside, CA

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N61303
NTSB Number LAX04FA081
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 None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 150J
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 15070950
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Dec 1 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Bradley S. Cords
Aircraft Owner Street Address 29082 Old Wrangle Rd
Aircraft Owner City Canyon Lake
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 92587
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code KAJO
Departure City Corona
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 600
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code KTOA
Destination City Torrance
Destination State CA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - initial climb
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Oct 27 2004 4:53PM
User who most recently changed record LABJ
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 25
Runway Length 3200
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --