# NTSB LAX84LA033: Cessna 401, N3208Q, San Diego, CA, October 26, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 25, 1983, 21:28 local (Oct 26, 1983, 04:28 UTC)
- Place: San Diego, CA
- Coordinates: 32.799728, -117.129348 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7997&lon=-117.1293&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 2 uninjured; on the ground: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24072
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX84LA033
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24072/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX84LA033

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - other person (contributing factor)
  - judgment - poor, other person (cause)

## Analysis

AFTER TOUCHDOWN DURING A NIGHT LANDING, THE PLT WAS LOWERING THE NOSEWHEEL TO THE RWY WHEN HE SAW A MEXICAN NATIONAL CROSSING THE RWY. THE PLT SWERVED TO THE LEFT IN AN ATTEMPT TO AVOID A COLLISION; HOWEVER, THE RIGHT WING STRUCK THE PERSON WHICH RESULTED IN FATAL INJURIES. THE ARPT WAS APRX 90% SURROUNDED BY A CHAIN LINK FENCE & THE REMAINDER WAS ENCLOSED WITH A BARBED WIRE FENCE, EXCEPT FOR A DRAINAGE DITCH FULL OF WATER. IT WAS NOT KNOWN HOW THE PERSON, AN ILLEGAL ALIEN, HAD GOTTEN ONTO THE ARPT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N3208Q (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 401
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 401-0008
- Airframe hours: 5532
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-E 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Mustang Aviation, Inc.
- Registered owner: Charles E. Farrar
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 14, 1983, 7 hours before
- Airport: SDM, Brown Field, runway 26R, 8,000 × 200 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 25; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,820 total, 320 in this make and model, 1,640 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SDM

## 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 19831025070209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831025070209A), Oct 25, 1983: Cessna 401, San Diego, CA, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. Aircrafts wing struck and killed a mexican national who ran in front of the aircraft on its landing roll.

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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