# NTSB LAX84FA002: Cessna 182M, N92019, Snow Water Lake, NV, October 2, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 1, 1983, 20:40 local (Oct 2, 1983, 03:40 UTC)
- Place: Snow Water Lake, NV
- Coordinates: 41.350742, -114.800491 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3507&lon=-114.8005&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23891
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX84FA002
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23891/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX84FA002

## 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)
  - preflight planning/preparation - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - weather evaluation - inattentive, pilot in command (cause)
  - wing - ice (cause)
  - flight into known adverse weather - initiated, pilot in command (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise - normal
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - stall - uncontrolled, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN IN A HIGH SPEED WINGS LEVEL DESCENT AT NIGHT AFTER ENCOUNTERING WEATHER AND ICING AT FLT LEVEL OF 13000 FT. THE PLT WAS IN CONTACT WITH SALT LAKE CENTER UNTIL 5 MINUTES BEFORE RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST AND GAVE NO INDICATION OF TROUBLE EXCEPT 'IN THE CLOUDS AND LIGHT ICE.' EARLIER HE HAD DESCRIBED ST ELMOS FIRE TO THE CENTER. HIS LAST CONTACT WAS A REQUEST FOR HIS NOTED GROUND SPEED FROM RADAR. IT WAS 120 KTS ACCORDING TO SALT LAKE ARTCC. DURING THE ON SITE EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT WRECKAGE FLT CONTROL CONTINUITY PRIOR TO IMPACT COULD NOT BE ESTABLISHED. THE COCKPIT SWITCHES/CONTROL POSITIONS WERE DESTROYED. THE ENGINE WAS DISASSEMBLED AND NO EVIDENCE WAS FOUND OF PRE-IMPACT FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N92019 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182M
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18260005
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-R 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Micheal Wood
- Registered owner: John Hunt
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, September 11, 1983
- Departed: LMT, KLAMATH FALLS, OR
- Destination: SLC, SALT LAKE CITY, UT
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 4,018 total, 3,200 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 190° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: EKO, 39 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 19831001052889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831001052889A), Oct 1, 1983: Cessna 182M, Snow Water Lake, NV, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Pilot last reported in IMC and light icing. Radar contact was lost 40 miles east of elko, Nevada.

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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