Accident Overview
A Cessna 172N, operated by a flight school, was destroyed during a departure collision with communication wires and terrain at Rialto Municipal Airport, California, at approximately 0023 hours. The accident flight was returning to Hawthorne, California, after the pilot and a passenger had flown to Rialto to visit friends.
Pilot and Flight Details
The pilot, a flight instructor for the operator, held ratings for airplane single-engine land and instrument. He had accrued 650 total flight hours. The operator stated the pilot was rated and experienced.
Pre-Flight and Weather Information
The pilot obtained a standard weather briefing from the FAA at 2319 for the return flight. During this briefing, he was advised of AIRMETs for instrument flight rules (IFR) ceilings and visibilities along his route. Earlier, at 1551, the pilot had obtained an FAA preflight weather briefing for the initial flight to Rialto.
Instrument Flight Plan and ALNOT
The airplane had been the subject of an FAA ALNOT (Alert Notice) issued at 2210 for failure to cancel an instrument flight plan with Southern California TRACON. The flight plan was from Hawthorne to Rialto, an uncontrolled airport. According to the flight plan, the estimated time of arrival at Rialto was 1845. Subsequently, county sheriff personnel located the airplane on the Rialto airport parking ramp. The ALNOT was canceled at 2240.
Radar Data and Final Position
Radar data from Southern California TRACON, processed by a private vendor for Cessna Aircraft Company, showed the airplane circling back over the airport and heading northwest. The highest altitude before coverage was lost was 1,700 feet mean sea level.