February 2, 2008, Cabezon, Calif., Cessna 340A

At approximately 1340 Pacific time the airplane was destroyed when it collided with mountainous terrain while maneuvering. The private pilot and his three passengers were killed. Visual conditions prevailed at the nearest official reporting station; instrument conditions prevailed in the accident area. The aircraft first contacted terrain 15 feet below the peak on the southern face of a canyon ridge at an elevation of 4800 feet msl. The wreckage distribution path extended over the peak and downslope on the northern face of the ridge. Investigators located all primary flight controls at the accident site.

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • An airplane collided with mountainous terrain while maneuvering, destroying the aircraft and killing the private pilot and three passengers.
  • Despite visual conditions at a nearby reporting station, instrument conditions prevailed in the immediate accident area.
  • The aircraft impacted terrain at 4800 feet msl, and investigators located all primary flight controls at the accident site.
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At approximately 1340 Pacific time the airplane was destroyed when it collided with mountainous terrain while maneuvering. The private pilot and his three passengers were killed. Visual conditions prevailed at the nearest official reporting station; instrument conditions prevailed in the accident area.

The aircraft first contacted terrain 15 feet below the peak on the southern face of a canyon ridge at an elevation of 4800 feet msl. The wreckage distribution path extended over the peak and downslope on the northern face of the ridge. Investigators located all primary flight controls at the accident site.

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