# NTSB LAX85LA196: Cessna P210N, N6099P, Santa Barbara, CA, April 8, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 8, 1985, 14:40 local (22:40 UTC)
- Place: Santa Barbara, CA
- Location: 34.4132° N, 119.8338° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from SANTA BARBARA MUNI (SBA), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4132&lon=-119.8338&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24690
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX85LA196
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24690/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX85LA196

## 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 - haze/smoke (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - preflight briefing service - not used, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - initiated, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - performed, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, climb - to cruise
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - water,glassy

## Analysis

AFTER RECEIVING A SPECIAL VFR CLEARANCE TO DEPART THE CONTROL ZONE TO THE NORTHEAST THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PLT TOOK OFF ON A SOUTHEASTERLY HEADING OVER THE WATER UNDER LOW CEILINGS AND IN LOW VISIBILITY. A CONTROLLER OBSERVED THE ACFT START A RIGHT TURN AFTER TAKEOFF THEN ROLL LEFT INTO A LEFT TURN. ANOTHER CONTROLLER OBSERVED THE ACFT'S RADAR TARGET CLIMB TO 600 FT THEN DESCEND TO 500 FT BEFORE DISAPPEARING OFF THE SCOPE APRX 1 MILE SOUTH OF THE ARPT. TWO GROUND WITNESSES OBSERVED THE ACFT IMPACT THE WATER AFTER DESCENDING OUT OF THE CLOUDS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6099P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6099P-1985-12-11), registration cancelled 1985-12-11, S/N P21000143 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA P210N
- Registry model: [Cessna P210N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-p210n) (registry code 2073454) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: P21000143
- Airframe hours: 1120
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-P 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Avag, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: SBA, SANTA BARBARA, CA
- Destination: 097, RICHVALE, CA
- Airport: SBA, Santa Barbara Muni, runway 15L, 4,179 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 25,000 total, 800 in this make and model, 20,000 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 400 ft overcast
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SBA, 1 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 19850408011449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850408011449A), Apr 8, 1985: Cessna P210N, Santa Barbara, CA, Destroyed. Aircraft climbed into clouds on special VFR takeoff. Impacted water after coming out of clouds at 70 degree angle.

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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