# NTSB LAX82FA111: Cessna 401, N499W, Sunflower, AZ, March 18, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 18, 1982, 12:10 local (19:10 UTC)
- Place: Sunflower, AZ
- Coordinates: 33.829769, -111.259094 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8298&lon=-111.2591&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 5 fatal, 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report March 18, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 72759
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX82FA111
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/72759/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX82FA111

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, climb - to cruise
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence in clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - initiated, pilot in command (cause)
  - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - attempted, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, climb - to cruise
  - wing - ice (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

AT 1027 THE PLT RECEIVED A WX BRIEFING FOR HOLBROOK, AZ. THE PLT WAS TOLD OF FORECASTS FOR "AT LEAST MODERATE ICING IN CLOUDS OR IN PRECIPITATION ABOVE THE FREEZING LEVEL" & THE BRIEFER STATED "I GUARANTEE YOU MODERATE TO SEVERE TURBULENCE..." FOR A ROUTE INTO HOLBROOK. THE PLT LATER GOT WX INFO FOR AMARILLO, TX & FILED AN IFR FLT PLAN TO AMARILLO. THE ACFT DEPARTED AT 1150. AT 1204 THE PLT REPORTED HE HAD AN ENG PROBLEM. RADAR PLOTS INDICATE THE ACFT WAS MAINTAINING A CLIMB OF ABOUT 500 FPM UP TO 11,200 FT. THIRTY SECONDS LATER THE ACFT HAD DESCENDED TO 8,500 FT. RADIO & CONTACT WAS LOST ABOUT 1207. BASED ON A WX STUDY THE PROBABLE METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS THAT EXISTED ABOUT THE TIME & IN THE AREA OF THE ACCIDENT WERE MODERATE TO SEVERE TURBULENCE BELOW 12,000 FT MSL & WHILE IN THE CLOUDS ABOVE FREEZING LEVEL THE ACFT LIKELY ENCOUNTERED MODERATE TO SEVERE RIME ICING. THE ACFT WAS NOT CERTIFICATED FOR FLT INTO KNOWN ICING CONDITIONS. THE FLT WAS TRANSPORTING PRISONERS FOR VARIOUS GOVERNMENT AGENCIES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N499W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N499W-2014-10-14), registration cancelled 2014-10-14, S/N 401-0273, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 401
- Registry model: [Cessna 401](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-401) (registry code 207590C) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 0273
- Airframe hours: 5484
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-E 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Air Security Transport Corp.
- Registered owner: Air Security Transport Corp.
- Departed: PHOENIX, AZ
- Destination: AMARILLO, TX
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 2,950 total, 364 in this make and model, 279 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft overcast

## 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 19820318004429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820318004429A), Mar 18, 1982: Cessna 401, Sunflower, AZ, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Aircraft crashed on IFR flight. Pilot reported engine problem. Other aircraft in area reported icing.

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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