Cessna Safety Record

THE PILOT'S IMPAIRMENT OF JUDGEMENT AND PERFORMANCE DUE TO DRUGS WHICH LED TO HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED AND RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL/SPIN. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S OVERCONFIDENCE IN PERSONAL ABILITY AND INTERPERSONAL RELATIONS.

THE PILOT'S DISREGARD OF THE WEATHER FORECAST AND FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER (INSTRUMENT FLIGHT CONDITIONS), RESULTING IN AN IN-FLIGHT COLLISION WHILE MANEUVERING IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF RECENT FLYING IN INSTRUMENT FLIGHT CONDITIONS.

THE PILOT'S CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM THE MOUNTAINS. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE CLOUDS AND MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE DISTANCE AND/OR ALTITUDE FROM TERRAIN. RISING MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AND DOWNDRAFTS ASSOCIATED WITH UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT.

the non-instrument rated pilot's decision to takeoff in known adverse weather conditions, which resulted in spatial disoreintation and an in-flight loss of control.

The flight crew's improper in-flight planning/decision, and failure to maintain adequate clearance (or altitude) from mountainous terrain. Factors relating to the accident were: darkness, fog, low clouds, and the high terrain.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALTITUDE (OR CLEARANCE) ABOVE THE TERRAIN, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PERFORM VFR FLIGHT IN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC). FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DARKNESS AND THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS.

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED AFTER A MOMENTARY LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DURING TAKEOFF, RESULTING IN AN INADVERTENT STALL/SPIN. THE REASON FOR POWER LOSS COULD NOT BE DETERMINED.

THE PILOT'S DECISION TO ATTEMPT FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, AND HIS LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL DUE TO SPATIAL DISORIENTATION. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: CONDITIONS OF DARKNESS, THUNDERSTORM AND LIGHTNING, AND THE PILOT'S LACK INSTRUMENT EXPERIENCE.

THE PILOT'S INTENTIONAL LOW LEVEL FLYING AND NOT MAINTAINING A CLEARANCE FROM THE TREES. A FACTOR WAS THE PILOT EXCEEDED THE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE GROSS WEIGHT OF THE AIRPLANE.

the pilot's continued flight into known adverse weather during descent, which resulted in in-flight collision with terrain. Related factors were the pilot's disregard of a hazardous weather advisory, and the low ceilings, fog and drizzle.

The pilot's failure to maintain an altitude adequate to avoid the mountainous/hilly terrain. Contributing to the accident was the glare from the setting sun.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALTITUDE IN THE VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR) TRAFFIC PATTERN. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW DISPATCH PROCEDURES, THE DARK NIGHT CONDITIONS, AND THE UNAVAILABILITY OF THE AIRPORT'S PILOT-CONTROLLED RUNWAY AND PRECISION APPROACH PATH INDICATOR (PAPI) LIGHTS.

the pilot's continued flight into instrument meteorological conditions during dark nighttime over mountainous terrain; and his failure to maintain an adequate altitude to ensure terrain clearance. Thw weather and terrain were factors.

failure of the pilot to maintain sufficient altitude or clearance from mountainous terrain. Factors related to the accident were: loss of electrical power for undetermined reason(s), darkness, and the mountainous terrain.