# NTSB LAX82FA346: Cessna 182P, N20726, Beldon, CA, September 18, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 18, 1982, 00:00 local (07:00 UTC)
- Place: Beldon, CA
- Coordinates: 40.009811, -121.159729 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0098&lon=-121.1597&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 18, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 69914
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX82FA346
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69914/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX82FA346

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - conflicting, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise - normal
  - aircraft handling - uncontrolled, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent - uncontrolled
  - wing - overload (contributing factor)
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
  - wing - failure,total (contributing factor)
  - wing - separation (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly

## Analysis

PORTIONS OF THE ACFT'S RIGHT WING WERE LOCATED NORTH OF HIGHWAY 70 IN REMOTE RUGGED MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN NEAR BELDEN, CA.THE REMAINDER OF THE WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED ABOUT 2 MI SOUTH OF THE HIGHWAY ON THE EAST SIDE OF FERN CREEK CANYON AT AN ELEVATION OF ABOUT 5,000 FT. A WX STUDY PREPARED BY NTSB INDICATED THAT WX CONDITIONS OVER NORTHERN CALIFORNIA WAS CHARACTERIZED BY OVERCAST SKIES & RAIN SHOWERS. ALSO LIGHT TO OCCASIONALLY MODERATE RAIN SHOWERS THROUGHOUT THE EASTERN SIDE OF THE SACRAMENTO VALLEY & WESTERN SIERRA MOUNTAINS. FORECASTS WERE FOR THE MOUNTAINS TO BE GENERALLY OBSCURED ALONG THE ACFT'S ROUTE OF FLT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N20726 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182P
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18261158
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-R 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Mickele A. Foley
- Registered owner: Colusa Flying Club, Inc.
- Departed: 008, COLUSA, CA
- Destination: WMC, WINNEMUCCA, NV

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.

## Weather

- Conditions: Day
- Wind: 150° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 138 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: RBL

## 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 19820918049849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820918049849A), Sep 18, 1982: Cessna 182P, Belden, CA, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Wreckage and weather indicates pilot lost control in area of cloud obscured mountains. Inputs exceeded load limits.

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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