On July 9, 1995, a Cessna 152 (registration N757JP) operated by Flyers, Inc. was involved in an aviation accident near Miramar, CA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: 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. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A pilot self-dispatched a flying club airplane he had not scheduled. The wreckage was found by firefighters responding to a brush fire. Weather included broken ceiling at 300 feet and 1.5-mile visibility in fog. No mechanical failure was found.
Accident Details
A pilot, who was a member of a flying club operating on an honor system, self-dispatched an airplane that he had not scheduled. The air traffic control tower was closed at the time of the airplane's departure, and the exact takeoff time was not determined. The airplane's wreckage was found by firefighters, who were dispatched to fight a brush fire that was reported at 0417 hours. The weather condition included a 300-foot broken ceiling with 1.5 statute mile visibility restricted by fog.
Investigation
During toxicology tests, ethanol was detected in brain tissue and urine, but samples were reported to be unsuitable for analysis. There was no evidence of mechanical failure or malfunction found with the airplane.