# NTSB LAX85FA025: Cessna 172L, N3890Q, Westmoreland, CA, October 19, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 19, 1984, 03:00 local (10:00 UTC)
- Place: Westmoreland, CA
- Coordinates: 33.049747, -115.610725 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.0497&lon=-115.6107&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24429
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX85FA025
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24429/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX85FA025

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, descent - normal
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - wet (contributing factor)

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO THE PLT, HE WAS DESCENDING TO LAND AT HIS INTENDED WHEN THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED TURBULENCE & THE ENG LOST POWER. HE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENG & SUBSEQUENTLY LANDED IN A FRESHLY IRREGATED FIELD. DURING THE LANDING, THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN WHILE TRAVELING ACROSS FURROWS. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT IT TOUCHED DOWN ON THE LEFT MAIN & NOSE GEAR FIRST, CARTWHEELED AND CAME TO REST INVERTED AFTER TRAVELING AN ADDITIONAL DISTANCE OF ABOUT 100 YDS. NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND DURING THE INVESTIGATION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3890Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3890Q-1988-11-25), registration cancelled 1988-11-25, S/N 17259990 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172L
- Registry model: [Cessna 172L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172l) (registry code 2072432) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17259990
- Airframe hours: 2695
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Henry Milanes
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 14, 1984
- Departed: TRM, THERMAL, CA
- Destination: IPL, IMPERIAL, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, expired; seat: left; flight hours: 981 total, 15 in this make and model, 38 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 0° at 5 knots
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 57 °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 19841019057389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19841019057389A), Oct 19, 1984: Cessna 172L, Westmoreland, CA, Destroyed. Slowed descent due to turbulence. Engine quit. Crash occured during night emergency landing in soft field.

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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