# NTSB LAX85FA156: Cessna 152, N714WJ, Newport Beach, CA, February 26, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 26, 1985, 02:07 local (10:07 UTC)
- Place: Newport Beach, CA
- Coordinates: 33.619949, -117.929458 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6199&lon=-117.9295&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24473
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX85FA156
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24473/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX85FA156

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - impairment(alcohol), pilot in command (cause)
  - impairment(drugs), pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - aircraft weight and balance - exceeded, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - visual/aural perception, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - low pass - performed, pilot in command
  - maneuver - initiated, pilot in command
  - altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PLT TOOK OFF ON A DARK NIGHT IN MARGINAL WX CONDITIONS WITH 2 PASSENGERS OCCUPYING THE ONLY PASSENGER SEAT. ABOUT 17 MIN LATER, THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED IN A LOW PASS OVER A PIER AT NEWPORT BEACH, CA, FLYING TOWARD THE OPEN OCEAN. AFTER CROSSING OVER THE PIER AREA, THE ACFT ENTERED A TURN, DESCENDED INTO THE OCEAN, CRASHED & SANK IN ABOUT 40 FT OF WATER. BOTH PASSENGERS WERE FOUND IN THE ACFT. THE PLT'S BODY WAS FOUND ON 3/21/85 ABOUT 4 MI SOUTH OF THE ACCIDENT SITE. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND DURING THE INVESTIGATION. A WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE ENG SOUNDED FINE PRIOR TO IMPACT. TOXICOLOGY CHECKS OF THE PLT REVEALED HE HAD A BLOOD/ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 0.15%, BRAIN TISSUE HAD 0.2 MICROGRAMS/GRAM OF COCAINE, & LIVER TISSUE HAD 0.4 MICROGRAMS/GRAM OF BENZOYLECGONINE. HOWEVER, THEAMOUNT OF ALCOHOL DUE TO PUTREFACTION WAS NOT VERIFIED. THE PASSENGERS WERE FOUND IN THE ACFT ABOUT 6 HRS AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THEY TESTED POSITIVE FOR ALCOHOL, COCAINE & BENZOYLECGONINE. ACFT ESTD TO BE 124 LBS OVR ITS MAX GROSS WT LMT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N714WJ (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 152
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15279487
- Airframe hours: 3106
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: The Flying Club
- Registered owner: Bert W. Lilly
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, December 14, 1984, 27 hours before
- Departed: SNA, SANTA ANA, CA
- Airport: SNA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 38 total, 25 in this make and model, 13 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 40° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 800 ft broken
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: NZK, 8 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 19850226006719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850226006719A), Feb 26, 1985: Cessna 152, Newport Beach, CA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. After low pass over pier on dark night aircraft struck water. Student pilot and passengers intoxicated and drugged.

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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