# NTSB LAX75AL063: Cessna 182, N5554B, Costa Mesa, CA, May 26, 1975

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: May 26, 1975
- Place: Costa Mesa, CA · COSTA MESA, CA
- Location: 33.6659° N, 117.9123° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Costa Mesa, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6659&lon=-117.9123&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 11, 1975
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 148909
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX75AL063
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX75AL063

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1274  75/5/26    COSTA MESA,CA       CESSNA 182          CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 33, 637
        TIME - 0910                    N5554B              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - ORANGE COUNTY
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SANTA ANA,CA                PHOENIX,AZ
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  900
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          4 MILES OR LESS                                          NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          HAZE                                                      61
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      IFR
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- OBS IN STEEP DESCENT FROM LOW OCST.ACFT HIT TREES,CARS & DMGD HOUSE AFTER RECOVERY.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5554B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5554B-1975-08-07), registration cancelled 1975-08-07, S/N 33554 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182
- Registry model: [Cessna 182](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182) (registry code 2072702) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Orange County

## 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 19750526017279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19750526017279A), May 26, 1975: Cessna 182, Costa Mesa, CA, Destroyed. OBS in steep descent from low ocst. Acft hit trees,cars & dmgd house after recovery.

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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