# NTSB LAX87FA267: Cessna T210L, N7JT, Marina Del Rey, CA, July 15, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: July 15, 1987, 14:28 local (21:28 UTC)
- Place: Marina Del Rey, CA
- Coordinates: 33.980941, -118.459724 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9809&lon=-118.4597&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 26, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25411
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX87FA267
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25411/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX87FA267

## 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 - clouds (contributing factor)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, climb - to cruise
  - flight controls - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of recent instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

WEATHER AT DEPT AIRPORT WAS CLOUDS AT ABOUT 900 FT WITH TOPS AT 2,400 FT. BASED ON ATC TRANSCRIPTS AND THE RECORDED RADAR FLIGHT PATH, THE FLT ENTERED THE CLOUDS ABOUT 1 MILE FROM THE END OF THE RUNWAY. SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE FLT ENTERED THE LOS ANGELES TCA. THE SANTA MONICA LOCAL CONTROLLER THEN TOLD THE PILOT HIS POSITION AND ADVISED HIM TO EXIT THE AREA. THE RECORDED RADAR DATA SHOWED THE AIRCRAFT THEN ENTERED A RIGHT 270 DEG TURN FOLLOWED BY A SHARP LEFT TURN. WITNESSES ON A BOAT SAW THE AIRCRAFT IN A STEEP CLIMB ATTITUDE JUST BELOW THE BASES OF THE CLOUDS FOLLOWED BY ROLLING OVER AND DIVING STEEPLY TO THE OCEAN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7JT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7JT-2008-04-30), registration cancelled 2008-04-30, S/N 21059721, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA T210L
- Registry model: [Cessna T210L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210l) (registry code 2073449) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21059721
- Airframe hours: 1858
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-H 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Rubinstein, Norman E.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 11, 1987, 21 hours before
- Departed: SMO, SANTA MONICA, CA
- Destination: SJC, SAN JOSE, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 62; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,360 total, 372 in this make and model, 1,266 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 900 ft overcast
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SMO, 4 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 19870715034729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870715034729A), Jul 15, 1987: Cessna T210L, Marina Del Rey, CA, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Observed in a steep climbing turn. Rolled over and dived into ocean. Appears VFR pilot lost control in low clouds.

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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