# NTSB LAX83FA153: Cessna 170B, N2462D, Near Pala, CA, March 21, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 21, 1983, 07:40 local (15:40 UTC)
- Place: Near Pala, CA
- Coordinates: 33.379131, -117.070213 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3791&lon=-117.0702&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23438
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX83FA153
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23438/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83FA153

## 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 (cause)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, maneuvering
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO A FRIEND OF THE PLT, HE (THE PLT) HAD WATCHED WX INFOR ON TV, ON 3/20/83. TO THE FRIEND'S KNOWLEDGE, THE PLT HAD NEVER TELEPHONED THE FAA FSS FOR A WX BRIEFING OR TO FILE A FLT PLAN. AFTER THE FRIEND TOOK THE PLT & HIS WIFE (WHO WAS ALSO A PLT) TO THE ARPT, HE OBSERVED THE ACFT DEPART TO THE EAST WHERE THE WX LOOKED VERY DARK. APRX 30 T0 35 MIN LATER, WITNESSES HEARD THE ACFT CIRCLE AT LOW ALTITUDE IN THE VICINITY OF THE PALOMAR OBSERVATORY. THEY THEN HEARD A LOUD NOISE WHEN THE ACFT HIT A 110 FT TREE, APRX 80 FT AGL. NONE OF THE WITNESSES COULD SEE THE ACFT. REPORTEDLY, THE CEILING & VISIBILITY WERE AT OR NEAR ZERO-ZERO, WIND FROM 360 DEG AT 5 KTS, TEMPERATURE 30 DEG, WITH HEAVY SNOW & FOG THAT CONTINUED THRU-OUT THE DUTY. NEITHER OF THE PLTS WERE INSTRUMENT RATED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2462D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2462D-2013-02-11), registration cancelled 2013-02-11, S/N 20614, built 1952 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 170B
- Registry model: [Cessna 170B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170b) (registry code 2072306) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C145 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c145-series) (registry code 17012, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 20614
- Airframe hours: 4122
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-300 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Thomas Loren Brown
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 3, 1982, 30 hours before
- Departed: OCN, OCEANSIDE
- Destination: P34, WINDOW ROCK, AZ

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 765 total, 765 in this make and model, 26 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 5 knots
- Temperature: 30 °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 19830321008489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830321008489A), Mar 21, 1983: Cessna 170B, Pala, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Aircraft struck trees on mountain in IFR conditions.

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.