# NTSB LAX85FA093: Cessna 182P, N5948J, Big Bear City, CA, December 28, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 28, 1984, 14:40 local (22:40 UTC)
- Place: Big Bear City, CA
- Coordinates: 34.230098, -116.860031 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2301&lon=-116.8600&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): 24452
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX85FA093
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24452/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX85FA093

## 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
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, climb - to cruise
  - flight into known adverse weather - initiated, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly

## Analysis

THE ACFT CRASHED IN A MOUNTAINOUS AREA WHILE ON A VFR PERSONAL FLT TO LONG BEACH, CA. THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PRIVATE PLT & 4 MINOR CHILDREN ABOARD THE ACFT WERE KILLED. BY LOW CLOUDS & THERE WERE EXTENSIVE SNOW SHOWERS IN THE AREAREA THE PLT'S LOG BOOK INDICATED THAT HE HAD RECEIVED 5.0 SIMULATED INSTRUMENT FLT HRS & 0.5 ACTUAL INSTRUMENT FLT HRS OF DUAL INSTRUCTION. THE ACFT STRUCK THE GROUND IN A NEAR VERTICAL DESCENT ALTITUDE. THE FLT CONTROL REMAINED ATTACHED TO THEIR RESPECTIVE ATTACH FITTINGS; CONTINUITY OF THE FLT CONTROL CABLES TO THE CABIN/COCKPIT AREA WAS ESTABLISHED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5948J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5948J-2014-10-29), registration cancelled 2014-10-29, S/N 18263588, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182P
- Registry model: [Cessna 182P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182p) (registry code 2075816) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18263588
- Airframe hours: 2198
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-S 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Rudy Hill
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Unknown, November 1, 1983, 89 hours before
- Departed: L35, BIG BEAR CITY, CA
- Destination: LGB, LONG BEACH, CA
- Airport: L35, Big Bear City, runway 25, 5,800 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 133 total, 111 in this make and model, 67 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 500 ft broken
- Temperature: 45 °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 19841228068849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19841228068849A), Dec 28, 1984: Cessna 182P, Big Bear City, CA, Destroyed, 4 fatal. After deparature VFR pilot flew into weather. Lost control and crashed in mountainous area. Aircraft out of annual.

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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