NTSB Factual Report

HISTORY OF THE FLIGHT:

On March 19, 1993, at 0541 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 172M, N12587, reported stolen from Advanced Flight Training, Inc., Palm Springs, California, cruised into a wind park meteorological tower near White Water, California. The airplane's right wing separated and the airplane crashed into an adjacent open field in a nose low and inverted attitude. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the dawn flight. The airplane was destroyed and the private pilot and passenger were fatally injured.

Management personnel from the flight school which operated the airplane were interviewed. They reported that on March 18, the airplane had been rented and was flown without incident. At the completion of the flight, the airplane was returned to the Palm Springs Airport and its fuel tanks were topped off. Later that afternoon, an unknown person presented himself at the flight school and purported to be interested in taking instrument flying lessons. The person was shown the airplane. Thereafter, the person purchased sectional aeronautical charts for Los Angeles, San Francisco and Las Vegas. The person paid for the charts with a personal check, left his business card and departed the premises.

The flight school's management further reported that the person's check was not honored by the bank listed on the check, and the person was not recognized as currently associated with the firm named on the business card. The flight school then noted that the keys to the airplane which the person had been shown were missing.

The next morning the airplane was observed missing from its tie down location. Management filed a stolen airplane report with the local police.

During the predawn hours of the same morning, at 0516, the Banning Police Department responded to the activation of a building security alarm at the Banning Airport. A police officer arrived at the airport at 0523, and he observed a high wing airplane taking off at 0525.

According to a witness who was working in a field about 12 miles east-northeast of Banning, at 0540 he observed a low altitude airplane cruising in an easterly direction (away from Banning). The witness stated that he watched the airplane for about 40 seconds. He observed the airplane's wings rocking back and forth, heard its engine running, and saw it collide with a tower. Management at the flight school which had operated the airplane noted that the fatally injured pilot was the same person who had visited the school the previous day.

PILOT INFORMATION:

The pilot was issued a private pilot certificate on October 6, 1975, and he was rated to fly single engine land airplanes. According to the FAA, on August 27, 1992, when the pilot applied for an aviation medical certificate he indicated having a total flight time of 495 hours. Also, the pilot reported having flown for three hours during the preceding six months.

The FAA reported that in July of 1981, it revoked the pilot's airman certificate. On the accident date, the revocation order was still in effect.

WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION:

From an examination of the accident site and airplane wreckage, and from the witness statement, the airplane was found to have collided with the vertical portion of a wind park meteorological tower. Tower maintenance personnel verbally reported that the tower's base was situated at an elevation of about 1,726 feet mean sea level (MSL). Elevation at the top of the tower was about 1,925 feet MSL. The upper 10-foot portion (estimated length) of the tower was observed bent over horizontally, and it appeared to have been painted orange.

Portions of the airplane's right main landing gear wheel fairing were found within a 50 foot radius of the base of the tower. The airplane's right wing and the main wreckage were found about 200 and 250 yards, respectively, from the tower along a track of 029 degrees (magnetic).

The leading edge of the right main landing gear strut was found dented and abraded. It bore a transfer of orange paint on it.

The continuity of the airplane's cable flight control system was established from the aft cabin area to the empennage. The cockpit was observed destroyed and the instrument panel was found fragmented. The leading edge of the left wing was accordioned in an aft direction. The engine was observed broken from the firewall and was found near the top of the cabin. There was no evidence of fire.

The propeller blade was found in an impact crater about five feet southwest of the main wreckage. It was observed torsionally bent into an "S" shape. The blade bore leading edge gouges and chordwise scratches. The propeller's spinner was found crushed aft, and was observed twisted in the direction opposite of propeller rotation.

The crankshaft was rotated and compression was felt in all cylinders. The vacuum pump's drive coupling was intact. Spark was noted from all leads connected to the right magneto upon its rotation. The bottom spark plugs all appeared new. The carburetor bowl was found broken open, the throttle was open, and the venturi was found seated. The air filter appeared free of obstructions. The Lycoming Engine party representative verbally reported that no evidence was found of any mechanical malfunctions which would have precluded normal operation.

MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION:

On March 22, 1993, an autopsy was performed by the Riverside County Coroner's office. The autopsy did not disclose any evidence of physical incapacitation that would have adversely affected the pilot's ability to operate the aircraft.

Results of the FAA's toxicology tests on the pilot were negative for ethanol. Amphetamine and Methamphetamine were found in the pilot's blood and urine.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

On March 19, 1993, while located at the accident site, the airplane wreckage was verbally released in person to the flight school's management. No parts or records were retained.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO SEE AND AVOID THE TOWER DUE TO DRUG IMPAIRMENT. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE LOW ALTITUDE AND THE DAWN LIGHT CONDITION.