# NTSB LAX84LA213: Cessna 172M, N880LS, Lebec, CA, March 10, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 10, 1984, 11:45 local (19:45 UTC)
- Place: Lebec, CA
- Coordinates: 34.860542, -118.869148 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8605&lon=-118.8691&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24198
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX84LA213
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24198/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX84LA213

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor)

## Analysis

IN A PRELIMINARY ORAL STATEMENT, THE PLT SAID THAT THEY ENCOUNTERED AN UNFORCASTED OVERCAST & RISING MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. LATER, SHE STATED THEY WERE TRYING TO MAINTAIN VFR FLT IN MOUNTAINS WITH SCATTERED CLOUDS IN THE AREA; THEN WHEN THEY WERE INITIATING A CLIMB TO CLEAR A RIDGE, THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED A DOWNDRAFT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT SETTLED INTO TREES ON A STEEP RISING SLOPE & CRASHED. BOTH PLTS ESTIMATED THE VISIBILITY WAS ABOUT 1.5 MI. OTHER PARTICIPANTS OBSERVED CLOUDS OBSCURING THE RIDGE CREST & DEVIATED ABOUT 5 MI SOUTH TO LOWER TERRAIN. THE ELEVATION OF THE CRASH SITE WAS APRX 5000 FT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N880LS (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17263937
- Airframe hours: 3795
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 91
- Operator: Alpha Aviation
- Registered owner: Lang J. Stanley
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, October 24, 1983, 94 hours before
- Departed: VNY, VAN NUYS, CA
- Destination: VNY, VAN NUYS, CA
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 307 total, 44 in this make and model, 206 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BFL, 35 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 19840310006449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840310006449A), Mar 10, 1984: Cessna 172M, Lebec, CA, Destroyed. Too low trying to cross a ridge with minimal cloud clearance. A downdraft forced aircraft into the trees.

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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