# NTSB LAX83LA058: Cessna 206, N4687F, Merced, CA, December 12, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 12, 1982, 08:38 local (16:38 UTC)
- Place: Merced, CA
- Coordinates: 37.349098, -120.420333 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3491&lon=-120.4203&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report December 12, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 71661
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX83LA058
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/71661/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83LA058

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - below approach/landing minimums (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - attempted, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE TRANSCRIPT REVEALED THAT THE PLT WAS CLEARED FOR AN ILS RWY 30 APCH APPROXIMATELY 2 MI FROM THE OUTER MARKER. THE WX GIVEN TO THE PLT AT THAT TIME WAS INDEFINITE CEILING ZERO, SKY OBSCURED & VISIBILITY ZERO WITH FOG. THE PLT STATED AN INSTRUMENT APCH WAS PLANNED BUT A CLEAR AREA WAS OBSERVED SOUTH OF THE ARPT. THE CLEAR AREA WAS ENTERED & AN ATTEMPT MADE TO FLY TO THE ARPT BENEATH THE FOG. THE ACFT STRUCK A UTILITY POLE WEST OF THE RWY 30 LOCALIZER COURSE, CIRCLED LEFT & CRASHED. THE ACFT'S GLIDE SLOPE RECEIVER SENSITIVITY WAS FOUND TO BE BELOW THE MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATIONS, WHICH WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN A GLIDE SLOPE "OFF" INDICATION IN THE COCKPIT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N4687F (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 206
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: P206-0287
- Airframe hours: 3854
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-A 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Heisey, Walter Floyd
- Registered owner: E.W. Sworez Farms, Inc.
- Departed: C, BAKERSFIELD, CA
- Destination: C, MERCED, CA
- Airport: MCE, Merced Municipal, runway 30, 5,903 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 63; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, invalid medical for flight; flight hours: 661 total, 661 in this make and model, 521 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Temperature: 100 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MCE

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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