# NTSB LAX87LA353: Cessna 172P, N55186, Independence, CA, June 8, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 8, 1987
- Place: Independence, CA
- Coordinates: 36.829963, -118.240356 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.8300&lon=-118.2404&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 5, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25703
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX87LA353
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25703/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX87LA353

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)

## Analysis

THE ACFT WAS RPRTD MISSING AFTER IT DEPARTED SAN JOSE, CA, AT ABOUT 1852 PDT ON 6/9/87.  A SEARCH WAS INITIATED, BUT THE PLANE WAS NOT FOUND UNTIL THE WRECKAGE WAS DISCOVERED BY A HIKER ON 6/30/90.  THE ACDNT OCCURRED NEAR KEARSARGE PASS AT AN ELEV OF 12,000 FT.  WX AT THE ACDNT SITE WAS NOT KNOWN, BUT ABOUT 173 MI WEST AT SAN JOSE, THE 1846 PDT WX WAS IN PART: CLEAR, WIND FROM 290 DEG AT 14 KTS.  THE PLT TOOK THE ACFT TWO DAYS AFTER HE HAD AN ARGUMENT WITH A GIRL FRIEND; HOWEVER, THE OPERATOR STATED THAT HE 'HAD PERMISSION TO FLY THE AIRCRAFT AT HIS DISCRETION AFTER (BUSINESS) HOURS.'  PIECES OF WRECKAGE WERE LOCATED NEAR THE BASE OF A CLIFF.  A DIAGRAM PROVIDED BY THE INYO COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPT INDCD THE ENG CAME TO REST SOME 200 YDS EAST OF THE MAIN WRECKAGE.  THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT THE ENG WAS PROVIDING POWER TO THE PROP, WHEN THE ACDNT OCCURRED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N55186](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N55186-1990-08-23), registration cancelled 1990-08-23, S/N 17275130 (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: 17275130
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: General Aircraft Services
- Departed: RHV, SAN JOSE, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 21; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 208 total, 33 in this make and model, 145 as pilot in command, 29 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Not reported
- Wind: 290° at 14 knots
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Observed at: RHV, 173 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 19870608023109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870608023109A), Jun 8, 1987: Cessna 172P, San Jose, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Departed on a night VFR flight and became missing. Had an argument with his girl firend prior to the flight.

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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