# NTSB LAX82FA236: Cessna 182, N759NE, Trinity Center, CA, June 27, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: June 26, 1982, 18:24 local (Jun 27, 1982, 01:24 UTC)
- Place: Trinity Center, CA
- Coordinates: 41.049915, -122.780502 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0499&lon=-122.7805&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 26, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 72860
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX82FA236
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/72860/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX82FA236

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - haze/smoke (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT CONTACTED THE REDDING, CA TOWER & STATED HE WAS ON TOP & 41 MI FROM THE REDDING VOR. HE THEN REPORTED HE WAS GOING INTO THE CLOUDS & REQUESTED RADAR SERVICE. HE THEN CONTACTED OAKLAND ARTCC WHO PROVIDED ASSISTANCE UNTIL THE PLT STATED HE HAD FOUND A HOLE & WAS GOING DOWN NEAR THE TRINITY CENTER ARPT. RADAR & RADIO CONTACT WERE LOST AS THE ACFT DESCENDED BELOW ARTCC COVERAGE. THE PLT OF ANOTHER ACFT WAS ASKED TO RELAY TRANSMISSIONS & REPORTED THAT THE C-182 WAS OVER THE LAKE LOOKING FOR THE RWY. AT 1812 THE OTHER PLT RELAYED THAT THE C-182 WAS GOING TO CLIMB BACK UP & THAT IT WAS "SQUIRRELY" DOWN THERE. THE ACFT CRASHED IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AT THE 6,500 FT ELEVATION OF A 7,000 FT PEAK. THE WX IN THE AREA WAS REPORTED AS HAZY & FOGGY WITH THE MOUNTAINS OSCURED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N759NE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N759NE-1982-11-17), registration cancelled 1982-11-17, S/N 18266120 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182
- Registry model: [Cessna 182Q](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182q) (registry code 2072732) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18266120
- Airframe hours: 1094
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-U 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Flying Country Club
- Registered owner: Wilma Lathrop
- Destination: C, SAN JOSE, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 364 total, 24 in this make and model, 294 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 167 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: RDD, 33 nm away

## 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 19820626070439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820626070439A), Jun 26, 1982: Cessna 182Q, Trinity Center, CA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Caught on top. Descended through a hole. Marginal under clouds. Tried to return to top. Struck fog shrouded mountain

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.