# Accident 19971124034859A: Cessna 172N, San Diego, CA, November 24, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 24, 1997, 13:52 local time
- Place: San Diego, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.8608° N, 117.2401° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8608&lon=-117.2401&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6463D, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6463D-2013-04-30) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172N (registry code 2072434, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Reported engine: LYC O320H2AD
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 5,550 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX98FA043](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98FA043) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971124034859A

## Narrative

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

ACFT CRASED UND UNK CIRC SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, PILOT SUFFERED FATAL INJ, SAN DIEGO, CA. (.4)THE TOWER WAS TRACKING RADAR RETURNS BELIEVED TO BE FROM THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT.  THE TRACK CONTINUED NORTH TO A POINT WEST OF THE COASTLINE.  THE ALTITUDE RETURNS INDICATED 3,000 FEET, A DESCENT TO 1,500 FEET, THEN BACK TO 1,800 FEET BEFORE RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST.  A LIFEGUARD REPORTED SEEING AN AIRCRAFT COMPLETE A LOOP, LEVEL OFF, AND THEN NOSE OVER IN A DIVE UNTIL THE CRASHING INTO THE OCEAN.  THE PILOT'S GIRLFRIEND CONTACTED THE OPERATOR ASKING IF THE PILOT HAD TAKEN OFF AND EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT A POSSIBLE ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.  THE OPERATOR CONTACTED THE TOWER, BUT THE AIRCRAFT HAD ALREADY DEPARTED.  A FRIEND OF THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD BEEN DESPONDENT RECENTLY ABOUT THE DEATH OF HIS MOTHER AND HIS DETERIORATING HEALTH.  THE PILOT LEFT A HAND WRITTEN WILL DATED THE DAY BEFORE THE ACCIDENT.  THE CORONOR REPORTED FINDING EVIDENCE OF ADVANCED CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE AND A PREVIOUS HEART ATTACK.  HE RULED THE DEATH AS SUICIDE.

## 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 LAX98FA043](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98FA043), Nov 24, 1997: Cessna 172N (N6463D), La Jolla, CA, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: the pilot's act of suicide by intentionally diving his aircraft into the ocean.

## Other reports on N6463D (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19920722035999I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920722035999I), Jul 22, 1992: Cessna 172N (N6463D), Glen Canyon Nat, UT. A german national pilot made a precautionary landing at a closed airport due to weather.

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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