# NTSB LAX01FAMS1: Cessna 172N, N6452D, Monterey, CA, January 15, 2001

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Missing aircraft · Final report
- Date: January 15, 2001, 14:20 local (22:20 UTC)
- Place: Monterey, CA
- Location: 36.6012° N, 121.8828° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Monterey, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- NTSB coordinates: 36.210277, -122.672225, outside the stated state
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6012&lon=-121.8828&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 30, 2007
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 51358
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX01FAMS1
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/51358/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01FAMS1

## Probable cause

Undetermined.

## Sequence of events

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

- Missing aircraft, unknown
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)

## Analysis

On January 15, 2001, a Cessna 172N, N6452D, was reported as missing.  The personal flight originated from Concord, California, about 1420 hours Pacific standard time on a personal flight to an unknown destination.  The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91.  The private pilot, believed to be the sole occupant, is missing.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.  No flight plan had been filed. No additional information is available.

## Factual narrative

On January 15, 2001, a Cessna 172N, N6452D, was reported as missing.  The personal flight originated from Concord, California, about 1420 hours Pacific standard time on a personal flight to an unknown destination.  The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91.  The private pilot, believed to be the sole occupant, is missing.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.  No flight plan had been filed.

As part of the search efforts for the missing airplane, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) specialist reviewed recorded radar data from the FAA Air Route Traffic Control Center in Oakland, California.  The specialist related the recorded radar data to a record of radio transmissions between the pilot and Concord Air Traffic Control Tower.   A secondary 1200 (VFR) beacon code was noted on the departure path from Concord at the time the airplane took off.  The tracking started about 1420 at a mode C reported altitude of 600 feet msl (mean sea level).  The target maintained a steady climb as the track generally headed in a southwesterly direction.  It reached a mode C reported altitude of 10,500 feet about 22 minutes later.

For the next 1 hour 20 minutes, the mode C reported altitude varied between 8,500 feet and 11, 800 feet.  About 1550, the mode C reported altitude began to gradually decrease at the rate of 600 to 900 feet per minute.  The last recorded target was at a mode C reported altitude of 1,000 feet at 1602:48.  The specialist determined this was 36 degrees 12 minutes 37.229 seconds north latitude and 122 degrees 40 minutes 20.596 seconds west longitude.  A Safety Board computer program determined this position was over the Pacific Ocean 46 miles from Monterey, California, on a magnetic bearing of 224 degrees.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6452D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6452D-2002-12-20), registration cancelled 2002-12-20, S/N 17272806, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 172N
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Juan F. Espinoza
- Departed: CCR, CONCORD, CA
- Destination: UNKNOWN

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; injuries: fatal

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC)
- Wind: 350° at 16 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observed at: CCR

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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