# NTSB LAX84FA453: Cessna 320C, N7AE, Monterey, CA, August 24, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 23, 1984, 20:57 local (Aug 24, 1984, 03:57 UTC)
- Place: Monterey, CA
- Coordinates: 36.600776, -121.880996 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6008&lon=-121.8810&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 5 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23992
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX84FA453
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23992/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX84FA453

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, climb - to cruise
  - planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command
  - instructions,written/verbal - not followed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - atc clearance - not followed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, climb - to cruise
  - aircraft handling - improper, pilot in command
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - rising
- Fire, other

## Analysis

THE FLT ARRIVED IN MONTEREY, CA, THAT AFTERNOON. AFTER DINNER THE FLT WAS RETURNING TO THE POINT OF ORIGINAL DEPARTURE. WHEN THE PLT CONTACTED THE TWR FOR TAXI INSTRUCTION HE WAS INFORMED THAT MONTEREY WX WAS BELOW VFR MINIMUMS. AFTER A DISCUSSION OF WX CONDITIONS IN THE VICINITY AND THE NEARBY MOUNTAINS, THE CONTROLLER ISSUED A SPECIAL VFR CLEARANCE OUT OF THE CONTROL ZONE. AT 2051 PDT THE ACFT WAS CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF. AT 2054 WHEN ASKED BY THE CONTROLLER IF THE HIGHWAY WAS IN SIGHT THE PLT RESPONDED 'ROGER.' THE CONTROLLER INSTRUCTED THE PLT TO STAY OVER THE HIGHWAY AND TO STANDBY ON TWRFREQ. AT 2055 THE CONTROLLER CALLED THE ACFT TO TURN LEFT WARNING OF RISING TERRAIN. THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED ON RADAR TO CLIMB IN A RIGHT TURN FROM 900 TO 1500 FEET BEFORE RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST ABOUT 4.5 MILES EAST OF THE ARPT. THE ACFT IMPACTED THE 30 DEGREE UPSLOPING TERRAIN IN A NOSE DOWN INVERTED ATTITUDE AND WAS CONSUMED BY POST CRASH FIRE. ELEVATION AT THE ARPT AND ACCIDENT SITE WERE 244 AND 744 FT MSL RESPECTIVELY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7AE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7AE-1985-07-16), registration cancelled 1985-07-16, S/N 320C0060 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 320C
- Registry model: [Cessna 320C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-320c) (registry code 2074510) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 320C0060
- Airframe hours: 4605
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-470-D 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Cranston I. Root
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 12, 1984, 50 hours before
- Departed: MRY, MONTEREY, CA
- Destination: FCH, FRESNO, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 2,041 total, 50 in this make and model, 1,841 as pilot in command, 51 in the last 90 days, 51 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 290° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 700 ft broken
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: MRY, 6 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 19840823043329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840823043329A), Aug 23, 1984: Cessna 320C, Monterey, CA, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Departed at night on special VFR with no IFR rating. Lost control and stalled. Rolled and impacted a slope inverted

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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