# Accident 20161015016639A: Cessna 182D, South Lake Taho, CA, October 15, 2016

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 15, 2016, 15:53 local time
- Place: South Lake Taho, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.9214° N, 120.2083° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9214&lon=-120.2083&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8718X, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8718X-2018-04-04) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 182D (registry code 2072710, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182d) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental O-470 series (registry code 17026, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182D
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR17FA008](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17FA008) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161015016639A

## Narrative

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

ON OCTOBER 15, 2016, AT 1552 PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME A CESSNA 182D, N8718X, STRUCK THE EASTERN FACE OF RED PEAK MOUNTAIN, IN THE DESOLATION WILDERNESS NEAR SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CALIFORNIA. THE AIRPLANE WAS REGISTERED TO AND OPERATED BY THE PILOT UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS (CFR) PART 91. THE PRIVATE PILOT SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES, AND THE AIRPLANE WAS DESTROYED. THE CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT DEPARTED WINNEMUCCA MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, WINNEMUCCA, NEVADA ABOUT 1320 WITH A PLANNED DESTINATION OF WESTOVER FIELD / AMADOR COUNTY AIRPORT, JACKSON, CALIFORNIA. MARGINAL VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS WITH MODERATE RAIN PREVAILED AT LAKE TAHOE AIRPORT, 10 MILES EAST OF THE ACCIDENT SITE, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED.

THE PILOT WAS RETURNING FROM A HUNTING TRIP IN IDAHO, AND HAD STOPPED AT WINNEMUCCA TO SERVICE THE AIRPLANE WITH FUEL. PRELIMINARY RADAR AND AUDIO DATA REVEALED THAT AFTER TAKEOFF, HE INITIATED A CLIMB TO 10,500 FT. AS HE APPROACHED RENO, HE MADE CONTACT WITH NORTHERN CALIFORNIA TRACON (TERMINAL RADAR APPROACH CONTROL), REQUESTING VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR) FLIGHT FOLLOWING. THE CONTROLLER ASSIGNED THE AIRPLANE A SQUAWK CODE, AND THE FLIGHT PROGRESSED AT A MODE C REPORTED ALTITUDE OF 10,700 FT WHILE REMAINING ON A HEADING OF 220 DEGREES MAGNETIC, AND TRAVELLING AT A GROUND SPEED OF BETWEEN 40 AND 60 KNOTS.

HAVING REACHED SOUTHEAST RENO AT 1505, THE CONTROLLER INITIATED HANDOFF OF THE AIRPLANE TO OAKLAND CENTER, AND PROVIDED THE PILOT WITH THE OAKLAND FREQUENCY. THE PILOT READ BACK THE FREQUENCY CORRECTLY, HOWEVER OAKLAND CONTROLLERS REPORTED THAT THE PILOT DID NOT MAKE CONTACT. THE FLIGHT PROGRESSED AT THE SAME GENERAL HEADING AND ALTITUDE FOR THE NEXT 30 MINUTES, HOWEVER, RADAR DATA INDICATED THAT AS THE AIRPLANE APPROACHED THE MOUNTAIN RANGE, IT BEGAN TO VEER 30 DEGREES LEFT AND THEN RIGHT, WHILE DESCENDING. TWO MINUTES LATER, THE AIRPLANE HAD DESCENDED TO THE LAST RECORDED RADAR TARGET AT 9,600 FT, ABOUT 1/2 MILE EAST OF THE 9,100 FT MOUNTAIN PEAK.

CONTROLLERS WERE UNABLE TO ESTABLISH CONTACT WITH THE PILOT, AND AN ALERT NOTICE (ALNOT) WAS ISSUED. SNOW, RAIN, AND STRONG WIND CONDITIONS HAMPERED THE SEARCH EFFORT, AND THE AIRPLANE WRECKAGE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY DISCOVERED THREE DAYS LATER, AT AN ELEVATION OF ABOUT 8,100 FT, JUST BELOW THE LAST RADAR TARGET.

## 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 WPR17FA008](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17FA008), Oct 15, 2016: Cessna 182D (N8718X), South Lake Tahoe, CA, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The noninstrument-rated pilot's decision to depart on and continue a flight over mountainous terrain into forecast instrument metrological conditions, icing, and hazardous wind conditions that…

## Other reports on N8718X (2)

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

- [Incident 19780724039209I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780724039209I), Jul 24, 1978: Cessna 182 (N8718X), Sierraville, CA, Minor damage. Pilot hear loud noise, followed by extreme vibration. Shut fuel off, made airport landing. Hole in intake manifold.
- [Accident 19750515029712A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19750515029712A), May 15, 1975: Cessna 182D (N8718X), Selawik, AK, Substantial damage. C-182 overtook PA-18. Uncontrolled arpt.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.