# NTSB LAX84FA005: Cessna 175B, N8146T, Burbank, CA, October 5, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 4, 1983, 18:15 local (Oct 5, 1983, 01:15 UTC)
- Place: Burbank, CA
- Coordinates: 34.320144, -118.380332 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.3201&lon=-118.3803&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23892
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX84FA005
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23892/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX84FA005

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dusk (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, unknown
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor)

## Analysis

RELATIVES EXPECTED THE PLT TO RETURN HOME ON THE EVENING OF 10/4/83. WHEN HE DID NOT RETURN, RELATIVES REPORT THE ACFT WAS OVERDUE. THE ACFT WAS FOUND WHERE IT COLLIDED WITH A MOUNTAIN AT AN ELEVATION OF ABOUT 3580 FT, 10 MI NORTH OF THE DESTINATION ARPT. THERE WERE NO KNOWN WITNEESES TO THE ACCIDENT. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THE ACFT HAD DEPARTED BIG BEAR, CA AT ABOUT 1715 PDT. ABOUT 15 MI WEST OF THE ACCIDENT SITE, A PERSON SAW AN ACFT, MATCHING THE DESCRIPTION OF N8146T. ACCORDING TO HER, THE ACFT WAS OVER INTERSTATE 5, HEADED TOWARD BURBANK, CA. IN HER OPINION, THE PLT WAS TRYING TO GET OVER NEWHALL PASS, CIRCLED 3 OR 4 TIMES. THEN DEPARTED TO THE EAST. SHE REPORTED INTERMITTENT RAIN & ABOUT 1000 FT CEILING. AT ABOUT 1830, AN ATP PLT REPORTED THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY OVER THE MOUNTAINS. AT 1845, THE WX AT BURBANK WAS 1300 FT OVERCAST, 4 MI VISIBILITY WITH HAZE. THE ELEVATION OF THE BURBANK ARPT WAS ABOUT 3000 FT LOWER THAN THE ACCIDENT SITE. NO RECORD OF A PREFLT WX BRIEFING WAS FOUND. IMPACT OCCURRED ON 50 DEG RISING TERRAIN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8146T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8146T-1989-12-12), registration cancelled 1989-12-12, S/N 17556846 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 175B
- Registry model: [Cessna 175B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-175b) (registry code 2072506) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17556846
- Airframe hours: 1831
- Engines: CONTINENTAL GO-300-ACD 175 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Norman D. Armstrong
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 1, 1982, 9 hours before
- Departed: L35, BIG BEAR, CA
- Destination: BUR, BURBANK, CA
- Airport: BUR, Burbank

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 12,000 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 12,000 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Dusk
- Wind: 170° at 5 knots
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: BUR, 8 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 19831004055269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831004055269A), Oct 4, 1983: Cessna 175B, Burbank, CA, Destroyed. Impacted 500 feet below a mountain peak. Low clouds, rain, thunderstorms in area. Was seen flying low in area.

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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