FIDDLETOWN, CA, USA
N444N
RYAN NAVION A
THE ACFT CRASHED INTO HILLY TERRAIN WHILE DESCENDING TO ENTER THE TRAFFIC PATTERN AT THE RANCHO MURIETA AIRPORT. THE PILOT HAD CALLED SACRAMENTO FSS TO GET ASSISTANCE IN LOCATING THIS ARPT WHICH IS ABOUT 11 NM FROM SACRAMENTO VOR ON A BEARING OF ABOUT 65 DEGREES MAGNETIC. WITNESSES SAW THE ACFT AT BELOW 1000 FT AGL DESCENDING IN THE DIRECTION OF FIDDLETOWN SHORTLY BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THE WEATHER WAS VMC AND VISIBILITY WAS GOOD BUT IT WAS AFTER DARK. A WITNESS NEAR THE ACCIDENT SITE HEARD THE ACFT GO OVER HIM AT LOW ALT. HE SAW THE ACFT LIGHTS AS IT DESCENDED INTO THE HILLS THERE WERE FLAMES VISIBLE ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE IMPACT. HE STATED THAT THE ENGINE SOUNDS WERE NORMAL AND SEEMED TO BE AT A HIGH RPM SETTING. HE ESTIMATED THAT THE ACFT DESCENDED ABOUT 200 FT IN 1/2 MILE.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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