# NTSB DEN89FA218: Cessna 310I, N8087M, Hesperia, CA, September 17, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 17, 1989, 03:20 local (10:20 UTC)
- Place: Hesperia, CA
- Coordinates: 34.359535, -117.32035 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.3595&lon=-117.3204&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 9, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17609
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN89FA218
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17609/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN89FA218

## Probable cause

THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC) AND MISJUDGED HIS ALTITUDE ABOVE THE TERRAIN. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: THE PILOT'S LACK OF INSTRUMENT EXPERIENCE, PRESSURE INDUCED BY HIS WIFE (THE PASSENGER) TO TAKE THE FLIGHT, DARK NIGHT, WEATHER CONDITIONS, AND MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - flight into known adverse weather - initiated, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - pressure induced by others, passenger (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - drizzle/mist (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PLT & HIS WIFE DEPARTED APPLE VALLEY ARPT AT 0310 PDT ON A FLT TO RIVERSIDE, CA. AT APRX 0320, TWO TRUCK DRIVERS SAW THE ACFT FLYING AT LOW ALT TOWARD CAJON PASS (ELEV 4120 FT MSL). SUBSEQUENTLY, THE TRUCK DRIVERS SAW THE ACFT BURST INTO FLAMES WHEN IT CRASHED. ALTHOUGH THE PREVAILING WX AT APPLE VALLEY & RIVERSIDE WERE RPRTD TO BE VMC, THE TRUCK DRIVERS SAID THE WX AT CAJON PASS WAS SHROUDED IN FOG & DRIZZLE. THE PLT WAS NOT INSTRUMENT RATED. FRIENDS OF THE PLT & HIS WIFE SAID THAT HE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE WX, BUT SHE WAS ANXIOUS TO RETURN TO RIVERSIDE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8087M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8087M-1990-08-23), registration cancelled 1990-08-23, S/N 310I0087 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 310I
- Registry model: [Cessna 310I](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-310i) (registry code 2074224) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 310I10087
- Airframe hours: 3691
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-470-U 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Whitesides, Homer T.
- Registered owner: Whitesides, Homer T
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 9, 1988
- Departed: APV, APPLE VALLEY, CA
- Destination: RAL, RIVERSIDE, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 339 total, 102 in this make and model, 207 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19890917035309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890917035309A), Sep 17, 1989: Cessna 310I, Hesperia, CA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Impacted ground in a fog obsured pass and burned. Appears was following highway into fog and rain.

## Other investigations on N8087M (2)

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 NYC72FHJ04](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC72FHJ04), Aug 18, 1971: Cessna 310I (N8087M), Mattituck, NY, substantial damage
- [NTSB CHI65D0084](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI65D0084), Mar 1, 1965: Cessna 310I (N8087M), Sheridan, IN, substantial damage

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.

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