On February 20, 1996, a Cessna 172N (registration N738ED) was involved in an aviation accident near Julian, CA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the pilot's delay in requesting assistance to avoid high terrain. Factors were: the downdrafts, mountainous terrain, and the pilot's improper in-flight planning. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
Aircraft on an IFR flight plan at night encountered downdrafts while approaching a VORTAC on a mountain ridge. The pilot reported difficulty maintaining altitude, and the aircraft descended into clouds and impacted the ridge face 300 feet below the crest.
Synopsis
A single aircraft operating under an instrument flight plan at night in visual conditions encountered strong downdrafts while approaching a VORTAC situated on a mountain ridge. The pilot notified air traffic control of difficulty maintaining the assigned altitude due to downdrafts as the course converged on the lee side of the ridge.
Sequence of Events
As the aircraft neared the VORTAC located on a ridge peak, the intensity of the downdraft increased. The pilot was unable to maintain the en route minimum en route altitude (MEA), and the aircraft descended into an undercast cloud layer. The pilot requested vectors to exit the downdraft, but before that could be accomplished, the aircraft impacted the face of the ridge 300 feet below its crest.
Environmental Conditions
A pilot following in another aircraft reported that conditions were clear and visibility unrestricted over lower terrain away from the ridge. The accident occurred at night with visual conditions prevailing at the flight's location until the descent into the cloud layer.
What happened in the 20 Feb 1996 Cessna 172N accident near Julian, CA?
Aircraft on an IFR flight plan at night encountered downdrafts while approaching a VORTAC on a mountain ridge. The pilot reported difficulty maintaining altitude, and the aircraft descended into clouds and impacted the ridge face 300 feet below the crest.
What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?
The accident on 20 Feb 1996 involved a Cessna 172N, registration N738ED, at Julian, CA.
What was the probable cause of the accident?
the pilot's delay in requesting assistance to avoid high terrain. Factors were: the downdrafts, mountainous terrain, and the pilot's improper in-flight planning.
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