Cessna 425 Conquest crash, Mar 6, 2002 (3 killed), San Jo...
Cessna 425 Conquest accident on March 6, 2002 near San Jose-Reid-Hillview, California, United States with 3 fatalities. Cause: Loss of control and...
- Date: March 6, 2002
- Aircraft: Cessna 425 Conquest
- Location: San Jose-Reid-Hillview, California, United States
- Fatalities: 3
- Phase of flight: Takeoff and climb
- Cause: Loss of control and overstress in flight after pitot icing removed the airspeed reference, caused by an internal failure of the left pitot heat switch; pilot distraction and spatial disorientation contributed.
A Cessna 425 departing San Jose Reid-Hillview on an IFR flight to La Paz climbed into icing conditions and began erratic heading and altitude changes after its airspeed indication became unreliable. The airplane descended in a high-speed spiral and broke up in flight near 1,000 feet above ground. All three occupants were killed.