# NTSB LAX87LA058: Cessna 182L, N66CF, Oceano, CA, November 30, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 29, 1986, 20:00 local (Nov 30, 1986, 04:00 UTC)
- Place: Oceano, CA
- Coordinates: 35.039375, -120.620681 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0394&lon=-120.6207&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25484
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX87LA058
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25484/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX87LA058

## Sequence of events

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

- Undetermined, climb - to cruise
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - water,rough

## Analysis

WITNESSES STATED THAT WHILE THE ACFT WAS CLIMBING AFTER TAKEOFF, IT APPEARED TO BE LOWER THAN NORMAL. ONE WITNESS RPRTD THAT THE ENG SOUNDED AS IF IT WAS RUNNING ROUGH. ANOTHER WITNESS STATED THAT THE ACFT HAD BEGUN MAKING A LEFT TURN WHEN HE SAW FLAMES COMING FROM THE LOWER ENG COMPARTMENT. THE ACFT THEN MADE A SHARP DESCENDING TURN & CRASHED IN IN THE OCEAN. PIECES OF WRECKAGE WERE RECOVERED, BUT THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH TO DETERMINE WHY THE PLANE HAD CRASHED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N66CF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N66CF-1988-12-08), registration cancelled 1988-12-08, S/N 18259190 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182L
- Registry model: [Cessna 182L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182l) (registry code 2072726) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18259190
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-R 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: Unknown
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Donald F. Scully
- Registered owner: State Wide Foreclosure Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: L52, OCEANO, CA
- Destination: RHV, SAN JOSE, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,000 total, 300 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 20° at 18 knots, gusting 31
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SMX, 7 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 19861129062259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19861129062259A), Nov 29, 1986: Cessna 182L, Oceano, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. The aircraft was reported at a low altitude and the engine on fire when it struck the ocean. Aircraft not recovered

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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