# NTSB LAX82DA144: Cessna 150K, N5847G, 9 Sw Santa Barb, CA, April 20, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: April 20, 1982, 00:00 local (08:00 UTC)
- Place: 9 Sw Santa Barb, CA
- Coordinates: 34.530548, -119.800827 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5305&lon=-119.8008&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 20, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 69672
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX82DA144
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69672/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX82DA144

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, climb
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, landing - flare/touchdown
- Ditching, landing - flare/touchdown
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - water,rough (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ENGINE LOST POWER WHILE THE PILOT WAS SPOTTING FISH AT NIGHT.  HE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE OR GLIDE BACK TO THE SHORE.  THE PLANE WAS DITCHED ABOUT 3 1/2 MILES FROM THE SHORE AND WAS NOT RECOVERED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5847G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5847G-1983-08-20), registration cancelled 1983-08-20, S/N 15071347 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150K
- Registry model: [Cessna 150K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150k) (registry code 2071822) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 71347
- Airframe hours: 8000
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 91
- Operator: Andrew Witmer
- Registered owner: Andrew Witmer
- Departed: SBA, SANTA BARBARA, CA
- Destination: SBA, SANTA BARBARA, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 66; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 10,000 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 9,500 as pilot in command, 135 in the last 90 days, 85 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Temperature: 124 °F

## 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 19820420011869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820420011869A), Apr 20, 1982: Cessna 150K, Santa Barbara, CA, Destroyed. Engine quit on night fish spotting flight. Ditched off shore. Airplane sank, not recovered.

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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