Piper PA-12 accident near Cima, California, March 7, 2000
On March 7, 2000 at about 1:20 am local time, a Piper PA-12, registered N7586H, was destroyed in an accident near Cima, California. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
In-flight collision with terrain for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 7, 2000 · about 1:20 am local time
- Place
- Cima, California
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-12 · all PA-12s on the register
- Registration
- N7586H · no longer on the register · serial 12-459
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilots of the flight of two aircraft agreed by radio to break the formation and fly different routes around a mountain ridge and then rejoin on the other side. The wingman never rejoined the leader. The wreckage of the wingman's airplane was located in a wide, open, desert valley, and impacted the level desert floor on a heading opposite the course to the intended destination. The wreckage distribution showed a steep flight path angle at impact. No evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction was found. The flight leader was confidant there was no adverse weather along that portion of the route and, although the accident occurred near twilight, there was sufficient daylight for visual flight. The flight leader also reported that the 36-year-old pilot appeared healthy and well-rested before takeoff.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 942 hours in all; 165 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,059 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 1, 2000; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: VGT North Las Vegas NV
- Destination: CNO Chino CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 9,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.