# NTSB LAX82FA231: Cessna 182, N42488, Truckee, CA, June 14, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: June 13, 1982, 21:28 local (Jun 14, 1982, 04:28 UTC)
- Place: Truckee, CA
- Location: 39.3280° N, 120.1833° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Truckee, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3280&lon=-120.1833&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 13, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 72864
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX82FA231
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/72864/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX82FA231

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, cruise - normal
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - qualification, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - aircraft handling - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)

## Analysis

AT APRX 2015 PDT ON 6/13/82, THE ACFT DEPARTED PETALUMA, CA ON A NGT, VFR, X-COUNTRY FLT TO RIVERTON, WY. AN EN ROUTE STOP WAS PLANNED FOR ELCO, NV. NO RECORDS WERE FND OF A WX BRIEFING OR FLT PLAN. THE ACFT WAS DECLARED OVERDUE ON 6/16/82 & THE WRECKAGE WAS FND ON 6/22/82 ON A MTN RIDGE AT AN ELEV OF APRX 7500 FT. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE ACFT HAD IMPACTED IN A STEEP NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. THE WRECKAGE WAS DISBURSED OVR A SMALL AREA SURROUNDING THE IMPACT PT. THE FUSELAGE, ENG & WINGS WERE DESTROYED BY IMPACT, BUT THE EMPENNAGE REMAINED INTACT. THE TIPS OF THE PROP WERE SHATTERED & CHORDWISE SCORING & LEADING EDGE GOUGES WERE FND ON THE BLADES. THE ESTIMATED TIME OF IMPACT WAS AT 2128 PDT ON A DARK NGT. NO SIGNIFICANT WX CONDS WERE RPRTD. NO PREIMPACT, MECHANICAL DISCREPANCIES WERE FND. THE PLT'S MEDICAL CERTIFICATE REQUIRED THAT HE WEAR CORRECTIVE LENSES & IT WAS NOT VALID FOR NGT FLT OR FOR FLT BY COLOR SIGNAL CONTROL. TWO PAIRS OF SUNGLASSES (IN CASES) WERE FND IN THE WRECKAGE, BUT NONE WERE FND TO HAVE BEEN WORN BY THE PLT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N42488](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N42488-2014-12-17), registration cancelled 2014-12-17, S/N 18259039, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182
- 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
- Serial number: 18259039
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470 265 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: Unknown
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Departed: PETALUMA, CA
- Destination: RIVERTON, WY

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim

## Weather

- Conditions: Night/dark

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.