NTSB Factual Report

On July 9, 1995, about 0300 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 152, N757JP, collided with terrain about 2 miles southeast of Miramar NAS, Miramar, California. The airplane was being operated by Flyers, Inc., a flying club, and rented to the pilot for a personal flight. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and postimpact fire. The certificated commercial pilot received fatal injuries. The flight originated from Montgomery Field, San Diego, California. Night instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed.

Flying club members reserve club aircraft for rental using a honor system. Club members reserve aircraft by blocking time on a flying club form designed for such purpose. Each member is issued a key which allows them to access the club aircraft.

Review of the flying club records for the accident airplane indicated the accident airplane was not reserved by the accident pilot. The records also reflected the airplane had been flown the day preceding the accident. There were no discrepancies listed by the previous pilot against the accident airplane.

The exact time of the pilot's departure from Montgomery Field could not be determined. Information gathered during the investigation revealed the accident pilot had a telephone conversation with a friend from his home about 0200 hours. The Montgomery Field air traffic control tower was closed at this time and was not scheduled to open until 0700 hours.

The airplane was found by federal firefighters from Miramar NAS at 0628 hours, who responded to a report of a brushfire about 0417 hours. The accident area was east of Interstate 15 about 4 miles northeast of Montgomery Field.

Pilot Information

The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate which was issued on March 28, 1995, with airplane ratings for single engine land and instruments.

The most recent second-class medical certificate was issued to the pilot on August 1, 1994, and contained no limitations.

No personal flight records were located for the pilot, and the aeronautical experience listed in this report was obtained from a review of the airmen FAA records on file in the Airman and Medical Records Center located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Meteorological Information

The closest official weather observation station is the Miramar Naval Air Station, which is located about 2 nautical miles west of the accident site. At 0352 hours, a scheduled record surface observation was reporting in part: sky condition and ceiling, 300 foot broken; visibility, 1.5 statute miles in fog; temperature, 64 degrees Fahrenheit; dew point, 59 degrees Fahrenheit; winds, calm; altimeter, 29.98 inHg.

Wreckage and Impact Information

The airplane wreckage was found inverted about 180 feet down slope from three ground disturbances on a 130-degree magnetic azimuth. The elevation of the accident site was about 460 feet above mean sea level.

The initial impact point was marked by three ground disturbances that corresponded to the configuration of the airplane's tricycle landing gear. The distance between the two outside ground disturbance edges was measured at 94 inches, with the third disturbance centered on the other two. According to the pilot information handbook for the Cessna 152, the distance between the two main landing gear measured from the center of each tire is 91.25 inches.

Windshield glass fragments, the nose gear, and the propeller were found in the area between the initial impact point and the airplane's wreckage.

The propeller was found separated from the engine crankshaft flange. The propeller blades exhibited chordwise scoring at the tips. One blade was bent forward the aft in a "S" shape.

Four spark plugs were removed from the engine and examined by a Federal Aviation Administration safety inspector. According to the inspector, there were no signs of engine degradation.

A postimpact fire destroyed the airplane's cockpit, leaving no instrument readings or switch positions.

Medical and Pathological Information

A post mortem examination was conducted by the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office, with specimens retained for toxicological examination. The results of the toxicological analysis revealed positive results for ethanol (alcohol) in urine (250.0 mg/dl), and brain tissue (39.0 mg/dl). The specimen was unsuitable for carbon monoxide and cyanide testing.

Additional Information

Radar Data

Review of radar data for the accident area from the period 0200 hours to 0429 hours did not reveal any unidentified track information that may have been the accident airplane.

Wreckage Release

The wreckage was released to the owner's representatives on July 10, 1995.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALTITUDE (OR CLEARANCE) ABOVE THE TERRAIN, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PERFORM VFR FLIGHT IN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC). FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DARKNESS AND THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS.