Incident Overview
Date: Saturday 23 November 1968
Aircraft Type: de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter 200
Owner/operator: Cable Commuter
Registration Number: N7666
Location: 2,9 km N of Santa Ana-Orange County Airport, CA (SNA) –
ÿ United States of America
Phase of Flight: Approach
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 9 / Occupants: 9
Component Affected: Aircraft control systems (specifically, IFR navigation and altitude).Aircraft control systems (specifically, IFR navigation and altitude).
Investigating Agency: NTSBNTSB
Category: Accident
A Twin Otter aircraft experienced a crash due to poor visibility caused by dense fog at Santa Ana. The aircraft struck a steel light pole on the Newport Freeway, resulting in a crash. The probable cause was pilot error in improper IFR operations and an altitude misjudgment.A Twin Otter aircraft experienced a crash due to poor visibility caused by dense fog at Santa Ana. The aircraft struck a steel light pole on the Newport Freeway, resulting in a crash. The probable cause was pilot error in improper IFR operations and an altitude misjudgment.
Description
Visibility was poor due to fog as the Twin Otter approached Santa Ana. On finals the airplane hit a 30 feet steel light pole on the edge of the Newport Freeway (Costa Mesa Freeway) and crashed PROBABLE CAUSE: pilot in command – improper IFR operation pilot in command – misjudged altitude FACTORS: weather – low ceiling weather – fog
Primary Cause
Pilot in command – improper IFR operationPilot in command – improper IFR operationShare on:
