HESPERIA, CA, USA
N49813
CESSNA 152
IN HIS WRITTEN STATEMENT, THE PILOT REPORTED HE ENCOUNTERED INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS UNDERNEATH THE AIRPLANE AS HE ENTERED A MOUNTAIN PASS EN ROUTE TO HIS DESTINATION. HE REQUESTED VECTORS AND DIVERTED TO HESPERIA AIRPORT. HE REPORTED HE ENCOUNTERED DIFFICULTIES ACTIVATING THE PILOT CONTROLLED AIRPORT LIGHTS. HE STATED HE THOUGHT HE WAS SET UP ON A 'NORMAL NIGHT APPROACH' TO THE RUNWAY WHEN HE HIT POWERLINES ABOUT 300 FEET SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. HE REPORTED NO MECHANICAL DIFFICULTIES WITH THE AIRPLANE PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT DID NOT OBTAIN A WEATHER FORECAST FOR THE FLIGHT. THE PILOT FILED A VFR FLIGHT PLAN, BUT FORGOT TO OPEN THE FLIGHT PLAN. THE PILOT HAD 9 HOURS OF TOTAL NIGHT EXPERIENCE, 6 OF WHICH WERE AS PIC.
On September 16, 1993, at 0050 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 152, N49813, collided with transmission wires and crashed while on final approach to runway 21 at Hesperia Airport, Hesperia, California. The airplane, registered to and operated by the Mount San Antonio College Association Student Flying Club, Walnut, California, sustained substantial damage. The certificated private pilot and his passenger were not injured. The flight originated at Las Vegas, Nevada, at 2140 hours and was destined for Bracket Airport, La Verne, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was filed, but not activated. According to the written statement received from the pilot, as reported in the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated that he departed Brackett Airport at approximately 1600 hours on September 15, 1993. The pilot said he received a weather briefing from Riverside Flight Service Station prior to departure. The pilot stated he departed McCarran International Airport, Las Vegas, Nevada, and proceeded towards Brackett Airport without incident until he encountered an overcast layer underneath the airplane as he entered the Cajon Pass. The pilot said he requested assistance from Ontario terminal radar approach control facility (TRACON). The sector controller vectored the airplane towards Rialto Airport until it was determined that Rialto was also affected by the overcast layer of clouds. The sector controller then vectored the airplane towards Hesperia Airport. The pilot stated he encountered "some difficulties activating the pilot controlled runway lighting system" at the airport. He stated he circled the airport a few times trying to get the runway lights on. He finally got the airport lights to activate, and began a "normal night approach" to Runway 3. The pilot stated at approximately 300 feet short of the runway, the airplane struck power lines and crashed upright into a gully. The pilot said he did not know what caused the impact until he hit the powerline. He stated he believed he was going to make it to the airport safely. In an oral interview on the afternoon of the accident, the pilot told Safety Board investigators that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane or the engine. The pilot said he filed a VFR flight plan but forgot to activate it with the flight service station. According to the FAA safety inspector who examined the airplane, fuel was found in the left tank. He stated the pilot did not receive a weather briefing prior to the return flight to the Los Angeles area. Safety Board investigators contacted the airport manager at the Hesperia Airport. The airport manager said to the best of his knowledge, there were no reports of any difficulties with the pilot controlled lighting system.
THE PILOT IN COMMAND NOT MAINTAINING A PROPER GLIDEPATH. FACTORS PERTAINING TO THIS ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT IN COMMAND NOT OBTAINING A WEATHER FORECAST FOR THE RETURN FLIGHT, AND THE LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIEINCE IN NIGHT FLYING.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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