History of Flight
On November 8, 2014, about 1500 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 140A (registration N5612C) collided with power lines and terrain near Gilroy, California. The airplane, registered to and operated by the pilot under 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight, had departed Frazier Lake Airpark in Hollister, California, around 1430. The intended destination was Monterey Bay Academy Airport in Watsonville, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed.
The pilot and passenger were fatally injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. A family member reported the airplane overdue to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) the evening of November 8 after becoming concerned. The FAA issued an Alert Notification (ALNOT), and search and rescue personnel located the wreckage the following day in a heavily wooded valley about five miles north of Frazier Lake Airpark.
Overhead power distribution lines had separated near their mid-spans over the valley near the accident site. The lines were supported by two wooden H-frame pole assemblies about 1,500 feet apart and were approximately 300 feet above ground level near the accident site. Residents reported a power outage around the time of the accident. There were no witnesses.
Examination by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge revealed that the airplane collided with steep terrain and remained intact except for the propeller assembly, which was found near the main wreckage. The main wreckage was about 600 feet south of the distribution lines. Braided wire striations were observed on the propeller assembly and the outboard area of the right wing.
Personnel Information
The pilot, age 69, held an airline transport pilot certificate with airplane single-engine and multiengine land, airplane single-engine sea, instrument airplane, and rotorcraft ratings. He also held a flight instructor certificate with single- and multiengine land ratings and a basic ground instructor certificate. A second-class airman medical certificate was issued on May 14, 2014, with a restriction requiring glasses for near vision. The pilot reported 22,000 total flight hours and 30 hours in the last 6 months on his most recent medical certificate application.
Aircraft Information
The two-seat, high-wing airplane, serial number 15545, was manufactured in 1950. It was powered by a Continental C-90-14F engine (serial number 42725-0-14) rated at 90 horsepower, equipped with a McCauley fixed-pitch propeller. Maintenance records showed that during the last annual inspection on August 2, 2014, the airframe and engine each had 5,484 total hours, with 1,092 hours on the engine since major overhaul.
Meteorological Information
The closest weather reporting station was at Salinas Municipal Airport, 26 miles southwest of the accident site at an elevation of 84 feet msl. At 1453, an automated observation reported wind 7 knots from 270 degrees, visibility 10 statute miles, sky clear, temperature 24°C, dew point 12°C, altimeter 29.99 inches of mercury. According to the US Naval Observatory, at 1500 near Hollister, the sun was at 20.1 degrees above the horizon at an azimuth of 228.9 degrees east of north. Sunset was at 1702.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The aircraft had been flying south, and the wreckage was located on an east-facing slope of a wooded valley about five miles east of Gilroy. The wreckage was substantially damaged with no debris field. The first identified point of contact was tree strikes near the top of surrounding oak trees directly above the main wreckage. An area of disturbed dirt approximately 25 feet long with paint transfer marks on rocky outcroppings was found uphill from the wreckage. The propeller assembly, found near the main wreckage, exhibited impact damage. The airplane was upright and facing uphill at about 340 degrees magnetic. The engine and cowling were crushed rearward into the cabin area. Both wings had leading edge damage. The main gear legs were bent rearward, and the right wheel separated from the landing gear strut. All primary flight controls were attached, and the right horizontal stabilizer had impact damage.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy performed by the Santa Clara County Coroner on November 10, 2014, determined the cause of death as multiple blunt force injuries due to the airplane crash. Toxicology tests conducted by the FAA's Civil Aeromedical Institute were negative for carbon monoxide, cyanide, volatiles, and drugs.
Tests and Research
The right wing leading edge and right wing strut had impact marks consistent with a wire strike, and electrical arcing signatures were visible on one propeller blade leading edge. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.