# NTSB LAX83FA348: Cessna T210N, N5517C, Watsonville, CA, July 22, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: July 22, 1983, 09:05 local (16:05 UTC)
- Place: Watsonville, CA
- Coordinates: 36.949977, -121.720962 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9500&lon=-121.7210&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): 23476
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX83FA348
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23476/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83FA348

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, climb - to cruise
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - initiated, pilot in command (cause)
  - self-induced pressure, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, climb - to cruise
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT, WHO WAS A CONTRACTOR, WAS SCHEDULED TO ATTEND A HEAVY EQUIP'T AUCTION IN SACRAMENTO TO BEGIN A 1000. WITNESSES HEARD NORMAL ENG SOUNDS AS THE ACFT DEPARTED RWY 19 & TURNED TO A LEFT DOWNWIND DEPARTURE TURN. THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED PROCEEDING ON A NE HEADING, PARALLELING HWY 152 AT ABOUT 500 FT AGL GOING STRAIGHT TOWARD WHERE IT ENDED UP ON A HILLSIDE. ANOTHER WITNESS OBSERVED THE ACFT FLYING BENEATH THE CLOUDS & THEN ENTER THE CLOUDS IN A CLIMB NEAR THE BASE OF THE HILL. ARPT BASED PLTS DESCRIBED THE DEPARTURE AS ONE OF TWO 'BOOTLEG' IFR CLIMB PROCEDURES COMMONLY USED BY MANY LOCAL PLTS DURING LOW STRATUS CONDITIONS. THE PLT HAD BEEN OBSERVED USING THE 'HIGHWAY 152 CLIMB' MANY TIMES DURING THE PRECEEDING YEARS. THERE IS NO RECORD OF THE PLT ATTEMPTING TO OBTAIN A 'POP-UP' IFR TO VFR CLEARANCE. THE PLT FLEW AN AVERAGE OF 2 HRS EACH WORKING DAY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5517C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5517C-2012-09-21), registration cancelled 2012-09-21, S/N 21063775, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA T210N
- Registry model: [Cessna T210N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210n) (registry code 2073456) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 63775
- Airframe hours: 1668
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-R 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Donald R. Watson
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 28, 1983, 356 hours before
- Destination: SAC, SACRAMENTO, CA
- Airport: WVI, Watsonville, runway 19, 4,501 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 7,500 total, 2,800 in this make and model, 7,400 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 260° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 700 ft overcast
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

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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