History of Flight
On May 22, 2010, at about 1330 Pacific daylight time, a Socata TB-20 Trinidad, N3041Y, impacted terrain while in cruise flight over Happy Camp, California. The owner was operating the airplane as a personal cross-country flight under Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which departed Palm Springs International Airport (PSP), Palm Springs, California, at an undetermined time and was destined for Rogue Valley International - Medford Airport (MFR), Medford, Oregon. No flight plan had been filed.
Seattle Air Traffic Control Center, in radio contact with the pilot, reported that the pilot advised he was having trouble descending through clouds. Subsequently, radar and radio contact were lost. Around 1341, the Siskiyou County Sheriff's Department received 911 calls regarding a possible airplane crash. Helicopter support from the California Highway Patrol could not respond due to foggy and rainy conditions. The wreckage was located about 1720.
The pilot's spouse stated he flew this trip regularly, once a month, and flew alone. A friend who dropped off the pilot at PSP confirmed the pilot was flying alone.
Recorded radar data showed a target on a northerly course at 9,200 feet mean sea level (msl) at 1723:07, then veering slightly west and descending to 8,000 feet msl by 1724:55. The target turned north and climbed to 8,600 feet at 1726:07, the last target with altitude. The last radio contact occurred about 1727, and the final radar target at 1727:43 was near the accident site.
Personnel Information
The 84-year-old pilot held a private pilot certificate with a single-engine land rating. According to FAA medical records, he was issued a third-class medical on May 12, 2012, with a limitation to wear corrective lenses. He reported 1,900 total flight hours, with 50 hours in the previous 6 months.
Aircraft Information
The airplane was a Socata TB-20 Trinidad, serial number 1507, issued a standard airworthiness certificate on November 9, 1992, with a Lycoming IO-540-C4-D5D engine. The pilot purchased the airplane on June 7, 2004. Aircraft logbooks were not located.
Meteorological Information
Weather observations from nearby stations indicated visual flight rules conditions at the time, but with rain and clouds in the area. The accident site was in an area with light to moderate precipitation, and the airplane had entered clouds or instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) during the last four minutes of flight. AIRMETs were current for mountain obscuration, icing, and precipitation between 4,500 and 14,000 feet.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy determined the cause of death as multiple blunt force trauma. Toxicological testing detected 0.056 ug/ml oxycodone in muscle; the FAA database notes that oxycodone may impair mental or physical ability for hazardous tasks. Tests for volatiles were negative; carbon monoxide and cyanide were not tested.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The wreckage was located near a timber mill in 15-foot-high brush, inaccessible from the air without proper equipment. The debris field was about 3/4 mile long and 200 yards wide, on a 70-degree slope at elevations from 3,200 feet at the ridge top to 1,400 feet where the engine came to rest after striking a large pine tree. Both wings separated from the fuselage with undamaged leading edges. The empennage separated, and the top of the cockpit separated from the fuselage.