NTSB Identification: LAX87FA212.
The docket is stored on NTSB microfiche number 35908.
Accident occurred Monday, May 25, 1987 in LOS GATOS, CA
Probable Cause Approval Date: 03/31/1989
Aircraft: ROCKWELL 114, registration: N114CH
Injuries: 1 Fatal.
NTSB investigators either traveled in support of this investigation or conducted a significant amount of investigative work without any travel, and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.DRG A PREFLT WX BRIEFING, THE PLT WAS ADZD THE FORECAST FOR OAKLAND (19 MI NNW OF HIS DESTN) WAS FOR A 3000' BROKEN CEILING WITH OCCASIONAL 3000' SCATTERED, 5000' BROKEN & A CHANCE OF LIGHT RAIN SHOWERS. HE FILED A VFR FLT PLAN & DEPD. AT 1347 PDT, THE PLT OPENED HIS FLT PLAN & PROCEEDED WITHOUT FURTHER COMMUNICATION UNTIL HE WAS ABOUT 45 MI SE OF HIS DESTN. AT 1615 PDT, HE CONTACTED BAY TRACON & ASKED FOR & RCVD TRAFFIC ADZYS. ABOUT 12 TO 14 MIN LATER, RADIO & RADAR CONTACT WERE LOST. THE ACFT CRASHED ABOUT 22 MI FROM THE DESTN WHEN IT IMPACTED JUST BELOW THE TOP OF A MTN PEAK AT AN ELEV OF APRX 3350'. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. PSNL IN THE VCNTY OF THE ACDNT SITE SAID THERE WAS FOG WITH A VISIBILITY OF 50' TO 100'. THE CLOUD BASES IN THAT AREA WERE ESTIMATED TO BE ABOUT 800' BELOW THE ACDNT SITE. SVRL PEOPLE, WHO KNEW THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PLT, SAID HE OFTEN FLEW IN CLOUDS.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC..CONTINUED..PILOT IN COMMAND
Contributing Factors
TERRAIN CONDITION..MOUNTAINOUS/HILLY
Contributing Factors
TERRAIN CONDITION..HIGH TERRAIN
Contributing Factors
WEATHER CONDITION..CLOUDS
Contributing Factors
TERRAIN CONDITION..RISING
Contributing Factors
WEATHER CONDITION..LOW CEILING
Contributing Factors
WEATHER CONDITION..FOG
Contributing Factors
WEATHER CONDITION..OBSCURATION
Contributing Factors
OVERCONFIDENCE IN PERSONAL ABILITY..PILOT IN COMMAND
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