# NTSB LAX83FA095: Cessna T210N, N1244U, Gorman, CA, February 7, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 6, 1983, 17:30 local (Feb 7, 1983, 01:30 UTC)
- Place: Gorman, CA
- Coordinates: 34.720329, -118.1501 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7203&lon=-118.1501&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23423
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX83FA095
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23423/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83FA095

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise
  - light condition - dusk (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT RECEIVED A WX BRIEFING BEFORE TAKEOFF, BUT DID NOT FILE A FLT PLAN. APRX 35 MIN LATER, THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED FLYING LOW OVER INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 5 NEAR THE GORMAN VOR & TEJON PASS. A PATROLMAN THAT SAW THE ACFT ESTIMATED THAT IT CROSSED APRX 25 FT OVER A HIGHWAY ACCESS BRIDGE. HE ESTIMATED THE CLOUD LAYER IN THAT AREA WAS ABOUT 75 FT AGL, BUT NEAR THE SUMMIT, THE CEILING WAS APRX 15 FT. AFTER CROSSING THE BRIDGE, THE ACFT DISAPPEARED FROM THE PATROLMAN'S VIEW. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT WAS FOUND WHERE IT CRASHED ON THE GORMAN MOUNTAINSIDE, ABOVE THE HIGHWAY AT AN ELEVATION OF ABOUT 4300 FT MSL. AN INSPECTION OF THE WRECKAGE WAS MADE, BUT NO EVIDENCE OF AN INFLIGHT STRUCTURAL FAILURE WAS FOUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1244U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1244U-1992-01-15), registration cancelled 1992-01-15, S/N 21064680 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA T210N
- Registry model: [Cessna T210N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210n) (registry code 2073456) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 64680
- Airframe hours: 140
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-R 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Richard B. Siegel
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, January 20, 1983, 40 hours before
- Departed: BFL, BAKERSFIELD, CA
- Destination: VNY, VAN NUYS, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,174 total, 6 in this make and model, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Dusk
- Wind: calm
- Temperature: 39 °F, dew point -0 °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 19830206002699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830206002699A), Feb 6, 1983: Cessna T210N, Gorman, CA, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Flew into side of mountain while trying to stay VFR over a freeway with a ceiling between 15 and 100 feet.

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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