Sequence of Events
The airplane departed Ramona airport at approximately 1140. Radar contact was established by an air traffic controller, who instructed the pilot to climb and maintain 6,000 feet msl and then to make a left turn toward the Oceanside VOR. The pilot acknowledged. Shortly after, the airplane made a right turn to a heading of approximately 040 degrees at 4,300 feet msl. The controller then requested the pilot fly a heading of 270 degrees and climb to 7,000 feet msl, which was acknowledged. The airplane subsequently executed a steep 320-degree left turn, stopping at a heading of about 360 degrees at 4,800 feet msl.
The controller asked the pilot to continue a right turn to 290 degrees for radar vectors to Victor Airway 186, and then asked for an altitude readout. Another pilot on board responded, "standby, we're in a little trouble here." After two further calls from the controller, the pilot-in-command replied, "uh, six two x-ray standby a second." The controller issued a warning that the airplane was heading toward higher terrain and instructed the pilot to turn left and climb. No response was received.
The airplane then began a steep left turn from 4,700 feet msl, turning to a heading of approximately 180 degrees while descending to 2,500 feet msl, then climbing back to 3,100 feet msl. Radar contact was lost at 1148:39.
Pilot Experience
According to the pilot's logbook, he had logged 12.6 hours in 1999, 5.6 hours in 2000, and 11.5 hours in 2001. In the three years indicated, he logged a total of 0.7 hours in instrument meteorological conditions. No evidence was found of an instrument proficiency check completed within the 12 calendar months prior to the accident. No instrument flight experience had been logged within the 12 calendar months preceding the accident.