# NTSB LAX85FA119: Cessna A185F, N24BC, Pine Valley, CA, January 22, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 21, 1985, 18:40 local (Jan 22, 1985, 02:40 UTC)
- Place: Pine Valley, CA
- Location: 32.8662° N, 116.5791° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from GILLESPIE FLD (SEE), within about 7 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8662&lon=-116.5791&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24460
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX85FA119
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24460/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX85FA119

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - not performed
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE ACFT CRASHED WHILE THE PLT WAS RETURNING FROM A X-COUNTRY FLT AT NIGHT. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE ACFT WAS FLYING LOW IN A WESTERLY DIRECTION & APPEARED TO BE FOLLOWING INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 8. ONE WITNESS, WHO WAS TRAVELING WESTBOUND, STATED THAT THE ACFT OVERTOOK HIM WHILE FLYING AT ABOUT 100 TO 200 FT ABOVE HIS AUTO. HE FURTHER REPORTED THAT THE ACFT THEN TURNED, CROSSED OVER THE FREEWAY, STRUCK THE SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN & BURST INTO FLAMES. THE ELEVATION OF THE CRASH SITE WAS APRX 4200 FT. LOW CLOUDS WERE REPORTED IN THE AREA AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. APRX 23 MI WEST AT THE GILLESPI ARPT, THE WX WAS REPORTED AS 3000 FT OVERCAST WITH 10 MI VISIBILITY. THE ELEVATION AT GILLESPI WAS 385 FT. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF THE ACFT WAS FOUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N24BC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N24BC-2004-08-11), registration cancelled 2004-08-11, S/N 18502328 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA A185F
- Registry model: [Cessna A185F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185f) (registry code 2072821) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28502328
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-D 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Steve F. Sampo Jr.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 21, 1984
- Departed: DVT, PHOENIX, AZ
- Destination: SEE, SANTEE, CA
- Airport: SEE

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 650 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Visibility: 10 statute miles

## 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 19850121000949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850121000949A), Jan 21, 1985: Cessna A185F, Pine Valley, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Pilot was following road thru mountainous area on dark night. Turned 270 degrees, climbed into cloud, hit mountain.

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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