LAX83LVD02

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 172 · Gualala, CA · October 11, 1982

Accident · No injuriesFinal report
Date
October 10, 1982, 16:25 local (Oct 11, 1982, 00:25 UTC)
Place
Gualala, CA
Injuries
4 uninjured
Phase of flight
Takeoff
Aircraft
N29150Cessna 172N8465YPiper PA-28R
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report October 10, 1983
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19821010060411A
Case key
70920

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

On ground/water collision with objectTakeoff - roll/run
Airport facilities,runway/landing area conditionFactor
Visual lookout - inadequatePilot in commandCause
Visual lookout - inadequatePilot of other aircraftCause
Maneuver - performedPilot in command
Object - aircraft moving on groundFactor
On ground/water collision with objectTakeoff - roll/run
Stolen aircraft/unauthorized use - performedPilot in command
Airport facilities,runway/landing area conditionFactor
Visual lookout - inadequatePilot in commandCause
Visual lookout - inadequatePilot of other aircraftCause
Pull-up - inadequatePilot in command
Object - aircraft moving on groundFactor

Analysis

Cessna 172, N29150, & Piper PA-28, N8465Y, were both departing from a pvt, unctld arpt at the same time, but from opposite drctns on the same rwy. Th rwy was crowned in the center which prevented line-of-sight to acft on opposite ends. Each plt stated that he made the appropriate radio calls on the unicm freq bfr starting tkof. Drg their tkof rolls, they apchd each other near the mid part of the rwy. The Cessna plt stated he mnvrd to the rgt while the Piper remained in the center of the rwy. The Piper plt stated he swerved right, but that the Cessna went lft, then rgt, then lft again, & finally he pulled up to avoid a collision. As the acft passed, the lft wing tips collided. The occupants of the Piper had 32 bags of marijuana in their possession. The Cessna plt, an MD, stated the Piper plt had dilated pupils, facial sweating, tremulous hands, telegraphed speech, diaphoretic appearance & showed general aggitation.

Cessna 172, N29150, & Piper PA-28, N8465Y, were both departing from a pvt, unctld arpt at the same time, but from opposite drctns on the same rwy. The rwy was crowned in the center which prevented line-of-sight to acft on opposite ends. Each plt stated that he made the appropriate radio calls on the UNICOM freq bfr starting tkof. Drg their tkof rolls, they apchd each other near the mid part of the rwy. The Cessna plt stated he mnvrd to the rgt while the Piper remained in the center of the rwy. The Piper plt stated he swerved right, but that the Cessna went lft, then rgt, then lft again, & finally he pulled up to avoid a collision. As the acft passed, the lft wing tips collided. The occupants of the Piper had 32 bags of marijuana in their possession. The Cessna plt, an MD, stated the Piper plt had dilated pupils, facial sweating, tremulous hands, telegraphed speech, diaphoretic appearance & showed general aggitation.

Aircraft · 2

Registration
N29150
Reported as
Cessna 172
Category
Airplane
Serial number
1726406
Airframe hours
2,675
Engine
Lycoming O-320, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Joe Oram
Registered owner
Joe Oram
Departed
Gualala, CA
Destination
C · Pala Alto, CA
Airport
Ocean Ridge, runway 31, 2,600 × 60 ft, asphalt
Registration
N8465Y
Reported as
Piper PA-28R
Category
Airplane
Serial number
28R-0000
Engine
Continental TSIO-360, 225 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Part 91
Operator
John Bewer
Registered owner
John Bewer
Departed
Gualala, CA
Destination
Gualala, CA
Airport
Ocean Ridge, runway 13, 2,600 × 60 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew · 2

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot, aircraft N29150
Age
26
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Flight hours
88 total · 15 in this make and model · 47 as pilot in command · 14 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Role
Pilot, aircraft N8465Y
Age
36
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Flight hours
393 total · 121 in this make and model · 323 as pilot in command · 8 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
310° at 5 knots
Visibility
50 statute miles
Temperature
149 °F
Altimeter
29.00 inHg

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.