# NTSB LAX87FA102: Cessna 172P, N62127, Cuyama, CA, January 31, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 30, 1987, 18:19 local (Jan 31, 1987, 02:19 UTC)
- Place: Cuyama, CA
- Coordinates: 34.979911, -119.799621 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9799&lon=-119.7996&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 25, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25376
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX87FA102
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25376/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX87FA102

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT RCVD A PREFLT BRIEFING BEFORE A MORNING DEP FM MONTEREY. AT THAT TIME, THE FORECAST WAS FOR 3000' TO 5000' BROKEN CLOUDS WITH WIDELY SCATTERED RAIN SHOWERS BY 1600 & WITH A GEN OUTLOOK OF VFR. THE PLT FLEW TO SANTA BARBARA TO ATTEND A MEETING & DEPD SANTA BARBARA AT 1709 FOR THE RTRN TRIP W/O OBTAINING A PREFLT WX BRIEFING. WHEN THE ACFT DEPD ON THE NGT X-COUNTRY FLT, WX CONDS EN ROUTE WERE 2500' TO 5000' BROKEN TO OVERCAST WITH TOPS RPRTD TO 8500' & FLT PRE- CAUTIONS FOR MTN OBSCUREMENT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT IMPACTED RISING TERRAIN NEAR THE TOP OF A HILL AT AN ELEV OF APRX 2700' MSL. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THE ACFT WAS IN LVL FLT WHEN THE ACDNT OCCURRED. IMPACT WAS APRX 200 YDS FROM A 2-LANE HIWAY. PERSONS IN THE AREA RPRTD THE WX CONDS CONSISTED OF A LOW OVERCAST, VIS APRX 1/2 MI WITH FOG & LGT RAIN. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WERE EVIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N62127](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N62127-1989-03-21), registration cancelled 1989-03-21, S/N 17275216 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P
- Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17275216
- Airframe hours: 572
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Monterey Flyers, Inc.
- Registered owner: Kenneth B Petersen
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 17, 1986, 74 hours before
- Departed: SBA, SANTA BARBARA, CA
- Destination: MTY, MONTEREY, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 181 total, 9 in this make and model, 131 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Temperature: 50 °F

## 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 19870130002919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870130002919A), Jan 30, 1987: Cessna 172P, Cuyama, CA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Flew into rising terrain at night with fog and light drizzle in area. Impacted the side of a hill.

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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