NTSB Reports

After flying south through the Cajon Pass at 6500 feet msl, the airplane turned west and encountered what the commercial pilot presumed was leeside turbulence from the mountain range. She turned back south to find smoother air but the turbulence became more severe and the airplane began to descend rapidly. As the airline transport pilot struggled to change frequencies in the turbulence, the airplane descended to 2000 feet msl (about 500 feet agl). The commercial pilot applied full power but the engine did not respond. After the airline transport pilot enrichened the mixture and applied carburetor heat, the engine momentarily regained power. At about 2300 feet msl, the engine again lost power, and the ATP decided to land on the westbound lanes of a freeway. As he attempted to avoid a vehicle, the airplane landed hard.

Key Takeaways:

• A significant number of accidents involved engine power loss during critical flight phases (takeoff, climb, approach), stemming from issues like recent maintenance, fuel mismanagement, or carburetor ice.
• Several incidents resulted from a loss of aircraft control during takeoff, initial climb, or final approach, often leading to impacts with terrain or water.
• Adverse environmental factors such as severe turbulence, airframe icing, and challenging wind conditions were contributing factors in multiple accidents.
• Human factors, including pilot incapacitation, misjudgment, and lack of understanding (e.g., carburetor ice), also contributed to several incidents.

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