Incident Summary
During an instrument flight plan departure, an aircraft collided with trees and rising terrain. The aircraft was in communication with Air Traffic Control (ATC) at the time. The flight crew consisted of an instrument-rated certified flight instructor (CFII) and a pilot under instruction. The aircraft, registration N3060K, sustained substantial impact damage to the left wing leading edge, left aileron, and left engine nacelle.
Sequence of Events
The flight was cleared for takeoff and initially assigned an altitude of 4,000 feet while executing the Livermore One standard instrument departure (SID). After switching to departure frequency, the CFII called departure control but received no response. Shortly thereafter, the departure controller issued a clearance to another aircraft to maintain 2,000 feet and a heading of 010 degrees. The CFII acknowledged this clearance using the aircraft's abbreviated call sign "60K" and complied with the instructions. The ATC controller did not detect the incorrect read back.
While in instrument meteorological conditions and below radar acquisition altitude, the CFII observed terrain and trees at wing level directly ahead through breaks in the clouds. The CFII took control of the aircraft and executed a hard climbing right turn. He then reported to ATC that a collision with terrain had occurred and that the aircraft was climbing to 3,000 feet. The ATC controller responded by clearing the flight to 5,000 feet and subsequently provided clearance to another airport, where a successful landing was accomplished.
Communication Issues
Audition of recorded air/ground communications tapes revealed that the pilot of N3060K exclusively used the abbreviated call sign "60K" when communicating with ATC. The ATC controller's annunciation of call signs was often abbreviated, spoken quickly, and difficult to understand.
Aftermath
The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the left wing leading edge, left aileron, and left engine nacelle due to impact with trees and terrain. The flight was able to land safely at an alternate airport following the incident.