# NTSB LAX82DA125: Cessna 150, N5682E, Death Valley, CA, April 3, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: April 3, 1982, 10:15 local (18:15 UTC)
- Place: Death Valley, CA
- Coordinates: 36.599788, -116.829681 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.5998&lon=-116.8297&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 3, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 70425
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX82DA125
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/70425/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX82DA125

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, cruise - normal
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, landing - flare/touchdown
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor)
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE ENGINE BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH AND DECREASING THRUST RESULTED IN A FORCED LANDING.  WHILE LANDING ON A SOFT, DRY LAKE BED, THE PLANE CROSSED A SMALL WASH WHERE THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER.  AN EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT AND ENGINE REVEALED NO PRE-CRASH MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE.  THE ENGINE STARTED NORMALLY DURING A GROUND CHECK AFTER THE ACCIDENT.  IT WAS OPERATED AT 2200 RPM SEVERAL TIMES AND IDLED SATISFACTORILY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5682E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5682E-2013-04-23), registration cancelled 2013-04-23, S/N 17182, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150
- Registry model: [Cessna 150](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150) (registry code 2071802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17182
- Airframe hours: 6187
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Elmirage Airport
- Registered owner: Dan Iel R. Walter
- Departed: 0L6, EL MIRAGE, CA
- Destination: L69, DEATH VALLEY, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 23; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: unknown; flight hours: 59 total, 21 in this make and model, 31 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Temperature: 176 °F
- Altimeter: 31.00 inHg

## 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 19820403007689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820403007689A), Apr 3, 1982: Cessna 150, Death Valley, CA, Substantial damage. Engine quit en route. Flipped over landing in desert. Engine ran normal after accident.

## Other investigations on N5682E (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 OAK72DVG11](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK72DVG11), Aug 5, 1971: Cessna 150 (N5682E), Napa, CA, destroyed

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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