# NTSB LAX87FA087: Cessna 208, N9613F, Cima, CA, January 16, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 16, 1987, 06:40 local (14:40 UTC)
- Place: Cima, CA
- Location: 35.2378° N, 115.4992° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Cima, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2378&lon=-115.4992&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 24, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25371
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX87FA087
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25371/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX87FA087

## Sequence of events

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

- Altitude deviation,uncontrolled, cruise - normal
  - altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - descent - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - fatigue(lack of sleep), pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)

## Analysis

WHILE ON A DAY/VFR FLT FROM ONTARIO, CA TO LAS VEGAS, NV, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN NEAR THE TOP OF A 6500' PEAK. RADAR DATA SHOWED THAT APRX 20 MIN BEFORE THE ACDNT, THE ACFT BEGAN A GRADUAL DSCNT FROM ABOUT 10,000'. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE ACFT, ENG OR AUTOPLT WAS FOUND. THE PLT HAD A REST PERIOD ON THE PREVIOUS DAY, BUT THE INVESTIGATION DID NOT DETERMINE WHETHER HE HAD OBTAINED ANY SLEEP BEFORE A 1700 PST FLT. AFTER THE 1700 PST FLT, HE VOLUNTARILY FLEW ON A LATE NIGHT FLT WITH ANOTHER COMPANY. THAT FLT WAS DELAYED IN RETURNING & DID NOT LAND AT ONTARIO UNTIL ABOUT 0500 PST THE NEXT MORNING. APRX 41 MIN LATER, THE PLT TOOK OFF ON THE ACDNT FLT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9613F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9613F-1994-07-06), registration cancelled 1994-07-06, S/N 20800106 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 208
- Registry model: [Cessna 208](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-208) (registry code 2073702) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 20800106
- Airframe hours: 126
- Engines: P&W PT-6A 600 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: California Air Charter
- Registered owner: Cessna Finance Corp.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, October 31, 1986, 28 hours before
- Departed: ONT, ONTARIO, CA
- Destination: VGT, LAS VEGAS, NV
- Flight plan: Company VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,478 total, 91 in this make and model, 2,321 as pilot in command, 265 in the last 90 days, 88 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 340° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 51 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 1 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: LAS, 40 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 19870116000739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870116000739A), Jan 16, 1987: Cessna 208, Las Vegas, NV, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Radar shows a gradual descent was made to impact with a mountainside. No pilot or aircraft defects found.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.