# NTSB LAX86FA279: Cessna 172M, N80503, Havasu Lake, CA, July 6, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: July 6, 1986, 03:30 local (10:30 UTC)
- Place: Havasu Lake, CA
- Coordinates: 34.779075, -114.590423 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7791&lon=-114.5904&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 5 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 7, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24924
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX86FA279
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24924/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX86FA279

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, approach
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - impairment(drugs), pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - qualification, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - aircraft handling - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual/aural perception, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

AT ABOUT 2100 PDT ON 7/5/86, THE FLT DEPARTED LAKE HAVASU CITY, AZ FOR AN UNKN DESTN. ON THE NEXT MORNING AT APRX 0330, WITNESSES, WHO WERE FISHING ON LAKE HAVASU, HEARD THE ACFT CIRCLE TWICE, THEN CRASH ABOUT 2 MI WEST OF THE ARPT ON THE CALIFORNIA SIDE OF THE LAKE. THE WX WAS CLEAR & IT WAS A DARK NIGHT. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THE ACFT IMPACTED IN A STEEP DSCNT; IT MOVED ONLY ABOUT 20' AFTER IMPACT & THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE NOSE & FWD FUSELAGE. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE/MALFUNCTION WAS FND. TOXICOLOGY TESTS OF THE PLT & 2 OF THE PAX WERE POSITIVE FOR BENZOYLECGONINE & COCAINE. FOR BENZOYLECGONINE, THE PLT'S BLOOD, LIVER & KIDNEY TISSUE TESTED 0.46 MICROGRAM/MILLILITER, 0.58 MICROGRAM/GRAM & 1.3 MICROGRAMS/GRAM, RESPECTIVELY. FOR COCAINE, HIS LIVER & KIDNEY TISSUE TESTED 0.01 & 0.23 MICROGRAM/GRAM, RESPECTIVE-LY. THE PLT POSSESSED A STUDENT LICENSE THAT HAD EXPIRED. THREE OF THE 4 PAX WERE OCCUPYING THE 2 REAR SEATS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N80503](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N80503-1989-10-11), registration cancelled 1989-10-11, S/N 17266624 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M
- Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17266624
- Airframe hours: 3808
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Jim Kuhn, doing business as Bermuda Air Service
- Registered owner: John H. Lyman
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 27, 1986
- Destination: LHU, LAKE HAVASU CTY, AZ
- Airport: LHU, Lake Havasu City

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 450 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 200° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: LAS, 123 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 19860706030119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860706030119A), Jul 6, 1986: Cessna 172M, Havasu Lake, CA, Destroyed, 4 fatal. The aircraft impacted the ground during a night flight. Pilot was not qualified and had been using illegal drugs.

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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