# Accident 19970612014039A: Cessna 210K, Topanga, CA, June 12, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 12, 1997, 12:12 local time
- Place: Topanga, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.1003° N, 118.6003° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1003&lon=-118.6003&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8276M, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8276M-1998-11-13) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 210K (registry code 2073446, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-210k) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 210K
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 2,962 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX97FA210](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97FA210) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970612014039A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

THE NOINSTRUMENT RATED PILOT WAS FAMILIAR WITH THE LOS ANGELES BASIN AREA. THE WEATHER WAS OVERCAST WITH TOPS REPORTED IN EXCESS OF 5600 FEET. THE PILOT WAS RECEIVING RADAR FLIGHT FOLLOWING SERVICE AS HE DESCENDED IN A SOUTHERLY DIRECTION TOWARD HIS DESTINATION, AND HE INFORMED THE CONTROLLER THAT HE WAS LOOKING FOR A HOLE. THE PILOT THEN REQUESTED A SPECIAL VFR CLEARANCE THROUGH THE CLOUDS, A REQUEST WHICH WAS DENIED BY THE CONTROLLER. UPON REACHING 6000 FEET HE HEADED TOWARD THE OCEAN, INFORMED THE CONTROLLER THAT HE OBSERVED A LITTLE HOLE AND REQUESTED THAT THE CONTROLLER MONITOR HIS PROGRESS IN CASE I DO HAVE TO GO IN. THE CONTROLLER ADVISED THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN VFR. THE PILOT CONTINUED DESCENDING AND REPORTED THAT IS WAS HAZY, HE WAS STILL VFR AND HE THOUGHT HE COULD MAKE IT. AT 12

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX97FA210](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97FA210), Jun 12, 1997: Cessna 210K (N8276M), Topanga, CA, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain proper VFR altitude over mountainous terrain obscured by clouds, and his intentional descent into instrument meteorological weather conditions.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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