Columbia 400 | N2516S

The DTSB determines the Probable Cause of this accident to be Pilot Error, in that the accident pilot initiated an early VFR descent from 12,000 feet upon receiving a clearance for a visual approach, while still 15 nm from the field. The accident aircraft was travelling over congested city terrain while descending significantly below a power off emergency glide altitude when the engine abnormal appeared just 5 nm from the airport. The open gold course was in sight, and the accident pilot attempted an emergency landing there, but mis judged both alignment and energy. The accident pilot’s wife was killed during the low altitude stall, whereupon the accident aircraft impacted right wing low, killing the right seat passenger instantly. The total distance from the first point of contact to the final crash site was less than 100 feet, indicating that there was very little forward speed at the time of impact. There was no reason to descend this low, this early. The Probable Cause of this accident is clearly the mis handling of the inflight engine abnormal. However, the root cause of this fatal accident is the poor planning and ADM exhibited by the accident pilot by unknowingly placing himself into this very dangerous low altitude position, relying on continued engine power while descending below gliding distance to the field.

The DTSB recommends that all pilots of all aircraft rehearse and condition themselves to be fully prepared for in flight abnormal, such as loss of thrust, or reduction of thrust during approaches to airport over inhospitable terrain. The DTSB recommends that all approaches of this type should remain much higher, much longer, even going so far as to arrive over the top of any airport at 3,000 feet AGL or more. The DTSB recommends that all pilots of all aircraft rehearse and condition the simulated power off scenario approaches and landings from above airports to a landing, so as to be ready and proficient.