# NTSB LAX83FUG07: Cessna 172N, N3579E, Near Rialto, CA, November 29, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: November 28, 1982, 22:15 local (Nov 29, 1982, 06:15 UTC)
- Place: Near Rialto, CA
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 28, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 71922
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX83FUG07
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/71922/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83FUG07

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT AND HIS PASSENGERS HAD FLOWN FROM VAN NUYS, CA TO PALM SPRING, CA DURING THE AFTERNOON. AFTER ARRIVAL, THEY SPENT SEVERAL HOURS ON THE GROUND. AT 1740, THE PILOT CALLED A FSS TO OBTAIN A WEATHER BRIEFING FOR A FLIGHT TO CONCORD, CA. DURING THE BRIEFING, HE WAS ADVISED THAT VFR FLIGHT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED. THE FORCAST INDICATED DETERIORATING WEATHER CONDITIONS DUE TO AN APPROACHING WEATHER SYSTEM OFF THE COAST OF CALIFORNIA. AT 2153 PST, THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED WESTBOUND. RADAR SERVICES WERE TERMINATED 8 MI WEST OF PALM SPRINGS AND NO FURTHER RADIO COMMUNICATIONS WERE MADE. THE AIRCRAFT FAILED TO REACH ITS DESTINATION AND A SEARCH WAS INITIATED PROGRESS OF THE SEARCH WAS DELAYED DUE TO THUNDERSTORMS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS FOUND WHERE IT HAD STRUCK STEEP TERRAIN IN CANYON FOOTHILLS AT THE 3400 FT LEVEL. AN INVESTIGATION INDICATED THE PLANE CRASHED IN A SLIGHTLY NOSE LOW, LEFT BANK ATTITUDE. NO PREIMPACT, MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WERE FOUND.THE ONTARIO, CA WX WAS 2200 BROKEN, 4 MI VIS WITH FOG.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3579E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3579E-1989-03-21), registration cancelled 1989-03-21, S/N 17271596 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17271596
- Airframe hours: 2086
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Pioneer Aviation
- Registered owner: Paul Martinez
- Departed: PSP, PALMS SPRINGS, CA
- Destination: VNY, VAN NUYS, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 26; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 44 total, 1 in this make and model, 22 as pilot in command, 44 in the last 90 days, 24 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Temperature: 133 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ONT, 20 nm away

## 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 19821128060689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19821128060689A), Nov 28, 1982: Cessna 172N, Rialto, CA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Pilot departed in marginal VFR weather. Aircraft crashed in mountainous terrain at 3400 foot elevation.

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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