SANTA PAULA, CA, USA
N3322V
BEECH 35
THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT AND HIS PASSENGER TOOK OFF ON A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN WITHOUT OBTAINING A WEATHER BRIEFING OR FILING A FLIGHT PLAN. THE CLOUD LEVELS AT THE AIRPORT OF DEPARTURE WERE REPORTED AS SCATTERED CLOUDS AT 2,500 FEET AND BROKEN CLOUDS AT 10,000 FEET. A RADAR PLOT OF THE AIRCRAFT'S TRACK AFTER TAKEOFF SHOWS THAT IT TURNED ONTO COURSE WHILE CLIMBING. IT MADE A 360 DEGREE CLIMBING TURN THROUGH 4,500-5,000 FEET AND CONTINUED CLIMBING TOWARDS ITS DESTINATION. AS THE AIRCRAFT REACHED 9,500 FEET IT ENTERED A SPIRALING DESCENT. THE AIRCRAFT'S WRECKAGE WAS FOUND ON A MOUNTAIN TWO WEEKS AFTER THE ACCIDENT.
PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AN AIRSPEED AT WHICH THE AIRCRAFT IS CONTROLLABLE AND ABOVE THE STALL SPEED.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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