Loss of Control in Flight · NTSB WPR14LA096
MORRISEY 2150 — Pismo Beach, CA
| Date | January 14, 2014 |
| Location | Pismo Beach, CA |
| Aircraft | MORRISEY 2150 |
| Purpose of flight | Personal |
| Conditions | Day · Visual Meteorological Cond |
| Phase / occurrence | Uncontrolled descent Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) |
| Pilot age | 63 |
| Pilot total time | 25,000 hrs · High time |
| Time in type | Unknown |
| Fatalities | 2 |
Probable cause
NTSB findings
- Not determined-Not determined-(general)-(general)-Unknown/Not determined - C
What happened
Radar data indicated that the airplane took off, performed a touch-and-go landing, and departed westbound toward the ocean. After crossing the shoreline, the airplane turned right about 90 degrees and flew northbound over the water. The airplane climbed to an altitude of about 4,300 feet and then descended to 3,700 feet. The last three radar hits were recorded over a period of 14 seconds and indicated that the airplane entered a steep descent at a rate that exceeded 10,000 feet per minute before it impacted the water. One witness reported that she saw a "streak" descending toward the water followed by a "big bang." Another witness reported observing the airplane falling toward the water with what "appeared to be a wing" trailing behind it. He estimated that the airplane and the separated wing fell for about 10 seconds before they hit the water. The airplane wreckage was not recovered.