March 09, Santa Ysabel, Calif. / North American Navion

At about 14:20 Pacific time, a North American Navion crashed near Santa Ysabel, killing the pilot. IMC prevailed but the pilot was not instrument rated and no flight plan had been filed. Witnesses said they heard the sound of a low-flying airplane for a few seconds before it came out of clouds with the nose pointing down more than 75 degrees. The nose of the airplane pulled up a bit just before the airplane disappeared behind a ridgeline and crashed. The airplane apparently did not break up before impact....

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • A North American Navion crashed near Santa Ysabel, killing the pilot, at approximately 14:20 Pacific time.
  • The accident occurred in Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC); however, the pilot was not instrument rated and had not filed a flight plan.
  • Witnesses reported hearing the low-flying airplane before seeing it emerge from clouds in a steep nose-down attitude, with a slight pull-up just before impact.
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At about 14:20 Pacific time, a North American Navion crashed near Santa Ysabel, killing the pilot. IMC prevailed but the pilot was not instrument rated and no flight plan had been filed. Witnesses said they heard the sound of a low-flying airplane for a few seconds before it came out of clouds with the nose pointing down more than 75 degrees. The nose of the airplane pulled up a bit just before the airplane disappeared behind a ridgeline and crashed. The airplane apparently did not break up before impact.

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