# NTSB LAX84LA149: Cessna 172M, N5154H, Kelseyville, CA, January 21, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 20, 1984, 20:30 local (Jan 21, 1984, 04:30 UTC)
- Place: Kelseyville, CA
- Coordinates: 38.910797, -122.789703 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9108&lon=-122.7897&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 3 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24148
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX84LA149
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24148/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX84LA149

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - flight into known adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

THE PLT BECAME DISORIENTED WHILE IN IMC AND COULD NOT LOCATE THE ARPT. THE PLE STATED THAT DUE TO LIGHTS ON THE GROUND HE THOUGHT THAT HE WAS OVER THE PENINSULA, WHICH IS AN AREA OF LOW TERRAIN. HE ATTEMPTED A 180 DEG TURN AFTER DESCENDINGTO 500 FT MSL. THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES NEAR KONOCTI HARBOR, FROM WHICH THE MOUNTAIN RISES ABRUPTLY AND STEEPLY. THE PLT STATED THAT HE WAS MUCH CLOSER TO THE MOUNTAIN THAN HE THOUGHT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5154H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5154H-1987-07-30), registration cancelled 1987-07-30, S/N 17265352 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M
- Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17265352
- Airframe hours: 2612
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Samuel J. Johnson
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, October 23, 1983, 35 hours before
- Departed: 203, ANGWIN, CA
- Destination: 102, LAKEPORT, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 114 total, 114 in this make and model, 52 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 330° at 5 knots
- Temperature: 34 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19840120002489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840120002489A), Jan 20, 1984: Cessna 172M, Kelseyville, CA, Destroyed. Came out of clouds and collided with trees. Low clouds, rain, fog 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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