# NTSB LAX83FA024: Cessna 172N, N5223J, Panoche, CA, October 30, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 30, 1982, 00:45 local (07:45 UTC)
- Place: Panoche, CA
- Coordinates: 36.530471, -120.959877 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.5305&lon=-120.9599&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report October 30, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 72156
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX83FA024
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/72156/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83FA024

## 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 - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise - normal
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)

## Analysis

AT 1615 ON 10/29 THE PLT OBTAINED A FSS WX BRIEFING & FILED A VFR FLT PLAN TO TAFT. THE PLT WAS ADVISED HIS TRIP WOULD BE IN VFR CONDITIONS TO TAFT, BUT THE WX WOULD DETERIORATE TNTO THUNDERSTORMS ALONG HIS ROUTE AS THE EVENING PROGRESSED.THE ACFT ARRIVED IN TAFT AT APPROXIMATELY 1745. THE ACFT TOOK OFF AT APPROXIMATELY 2330 FOR THE RETURN FLT TO SAN JOSE. A WITNESS OBSERVED THE ACFT FLYING ERRATICALLY OVER THE DIABLO MOUNTAIN RANGE & THEY WATCHED THE LIGHTS OF THE ACFT IMPACT THE MOUNTAIN TOP.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N5223J (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 73739
- Airframe hours: 867
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Clinton Lindseth
- Registered owner: Clinton Lindseth
- Departed: C, TAFT, CA
- Destination: C, SAN JOSE, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 108 total, 4 in this make and model, 56 as pilot in command, 34 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 850 ft overcast
- Temperature: 138 °F

## 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 19821030055869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19821030055869A), Oct 30, 1982: Cessna 172N, Panoche, CA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Struck the top of a mountain on a dark, rainy night. Low time pilot was advised of deteriorating weather en route.

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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