# NTSB LAX83FVA02: Cessna 150F, N8463G, Coulterville, CA, March 28, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: March 27, 1983, 17:15 local (Mar 28, 1983, 01:15 UTC)
- Place: Coulterville, CA
- Coordinates: 37.710929, -120.120994 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7109&lon=-120.1210&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23562
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX83FVA02
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23562/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83FVA02

## 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 - clouds (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - attempted, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - preflight briefing service - disregarded, pilot in command (cause)
  - in-flight briefing service - not used, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, cruise - normal
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT MADE TWO TELEPHONE CALLS TO THE FSS REQUESTING WX BRIEFINGS FOR A VFR FLT TO MEDFORD, OR. HE WAS PROVIDED WITH A SUMMARY OF THE CURRENT AND FORECAST WX FOR HIS ROUTE AND DESTINATION. HE WAS ADVISED THAT VFR FLT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR THAT DAY. THE PILOT DID NOT FILE A FLT PLAN AND IT IS NOT KNOWN WHAT TIME HE DEPARTED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS REFUELED AT TONOPAH, NV AND NO FLT PLAN WAS FILED AND NO ETD KNOWN. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED INTO A TREE AT APRX 20 FEET AGL. A WITNESS STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT JUST BARELY CLEARED HIS HOUSETOP, HEAVY RAIN WAS FALLING AND ALL THE HILLS AT THE LEVEL OF HIS HOUSE WERE ENGULFED IN FOG.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8463G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8463G-1984-05-26), registration cancelled 1984-05-26, S/N 15062563 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150F
- Registry model: [Cessna 150F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150f) (registry code 2071814) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15062563
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Lawrence D. Edwards, Jr.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, November 2, 1982
- Departed: TPH, TONOPAH, NV
- Destination: 022, COLUMBIA, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 425 total, 305 in this make and model, 385 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Dusk
- Observed at: MOD, 30 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 19830327015379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830327015379A), Mar 27, 1983: Cessna 150F, Coulterville, CA, Substantial damage. Struck a tree flying in heavy rain and low clouds in a mountainous area. Had deviated from flight briefing 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.

---
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.