# NTSB LAX82FA027: Cessna 182L, N42864, Coalinga, CA, December 13, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 13, 1981
- Place: Coalinga, CA · COALINGA, CA
- Location: 36.1402° N, 120.3520° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Coalinga, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1402&lon=-120.3520&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 17, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 122883
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX82FA027
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX82FA027

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2950  81/12/13 NR.COALINGA,CA        CESSNA 182L         CR-  2  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 43, 434
        TIME - 1905                    N42864              PX-  2  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 48 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - HARRIS RANCH
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          HARRIS RANCH,CA             FRESNO,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        REMARKS- PLT AT CONTROLS PRESUMED.UNLIGHTED TERRAIN.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N42864](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N42864-2008-02-13), registration cancelled 2008-02-13, S/N 18259223, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182L
- Registry model: [Cessna 182L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182l) (registry code 2072726) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Harris Ranch

## 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 19811213080719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19811213080719A), Dec 13, 1981: Cessna 182L, Coalinga, CA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Airplane flew into the ground shortly after night takeoff. No ground lights off end of runway. Lost control.

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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