# NTSB LAX83LA450: Cessna 182, N5437B, Joshua Tree, CA, September 20, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 20, 1983, 13:05 local (20:05 UTC)
- Place: Joshua Tree, CA
- Coordinates: 34.15015, -116.270118 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1501&lon=-116.2701&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23860
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX83LA450
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23860/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83LA450

## 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)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE WAS FLYING UNDER A 2000 FT MSL CLOUD LAYER WHILE EN ROUTE FROM SAN CARLOS, CA TO GLENDALE, AZ. HE FLEW INTO A VALLEY & THE CLOUDS BEGAN CLOSING IN. HE THEN MADE A 180 DEG TURN, BUT THE CLOUDS HAD CLOSED IN BEHIND HIM. HE ATTEMPTED A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON A ROAD IN THE JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL MONUMENT. HOWEVER, DURING THE ROLL-OUT, THE LEFT WING OF THE ACFT CONTACTED A JOSHUA TREE & THE ACFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5437B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5437B-1984-03-26), registration cancelled 1984-03-26, S/N 33437 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182
- Registry model: [Cessna 182](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182) (registry code 2072702) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 33437
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470L 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Richard Dennis Capek
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: SQL, SAN CARLOS, CA
- Destination: P37, GLENDALE, AZ

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 900 total, 500 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Lowest ceiling: 100 ft overcast

## 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 19830920050199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830920050199A), Sep 20, 1983: Cessna 182, Joshua Tree, CA, Destroyed. Caught in a valley as clouds closed passes. Elected to land on a road. A wing struck a Joshua Tree on the rollout.

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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