San Diego - Palm Springs

On November 15, 1987 at 06:15 PM, San Diego - Palm Springs experienced a crash involving Cessna 441 Conquest, operated by United States Government, with the event recorded near Mexicali Baja California.

The flight was categorized as survey / patrol / reconnaissance and the reported phase was flight at a plain, valley crash site.

2 people were known to be on board, 2 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 1, crew fatalities: 1, passengers on board: 1, passenger fatalities: 1, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. A Cessna 441 operated by the US Customs Services collided with terrain while on an authorized night tactical flight. The copilot did not meet the currency standards as required by USCS and was not qualified in the aircraft. The flight originated during the daylight hours and continued to astronomical twilight. The pilots did not dark adapt previous to the night conditions. Dark adaption was impeded by flight through various light conditions created by terrain and ambient light levels. With night vision impeded the pilot would not have been able to distinguish relief of the terrain. The acft collided with a small ridge that abruptly rose 300 feet. Both occupants were killed.

Aircraft reference details include registration N2484B, MSN 441-0112, year of manufacture 1979.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 32.6513°, -115.4145°.