# NTSB LAX87MA018: Cessna 172N, N1048F, Altadena, CA, October 17, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Major investigation · Final report
- Date: October 16, 1986, 19:38 local (Oct 17, 1986, 02:38 UTC)
- Place: Altadena, CA
- Coordinates: 34.20029, -118.129783 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2003&lon=-118.1298&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 9, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25704
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX87MA018
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25704/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX87MA018

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise - normal
  - crew/group briefing - inadequate, atc personnel(dep/apch) (cause)
  - identification of aircraft on radar - not maintained, atc personnel(dep/apch) (cause)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - atc clearance - improper, atc personnel(dep/apch) (cause)
  - altitude - inadequate (cause)
  - habit interference, atc personnel(dep/apch) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

WHILE RTRNG TO SANTA MONICA (SMO) FM A X-COUNTRY, THE PLTS DIVERTED TO VAN NUYS WHEN THE RWY AT SMO WAS CLOSED DUE TO A DISABLED ACFT. AFTER THE RWY WAS REOPENED, THEY FILED AN IFR FLT PLN TO CONT AT 5000' & TKOF AT NGT. DRG DEP, THE AR-3 CTLR PROVIDED RADAR VECTORS (FOR CLNC AT 3000'). AT 1926:39, AR-4 CTLR ACKNOWLEDGED/ACCEPTED AN AUTOMATED HANDOFF VIA AN ARTS-III COMPUTER KEYBOARD ENTRY. AR-3 PROVIDED ADNTL VECTORS TO THE FLT, THE LAST BEING A 080 DEG HDG (AT 1929:12), BUT DIDN'T TELL THE PLTS TO CHG TO AR-4'S FREQ. AT APRX 1933, THE AR-3 & AR-4 CTLRS WERE RELIEVED & BGN BRIEFING THEIR RELIEVING CTLRS. SOON THEREAFTER, THE FLT PASSED OVR THE ASR ANTENNA, THEN WAS DISPLAYED ON THE RADAR SCOPE IN A COAST MODE. IT REAPPEARED WITH A DATA TAG, THAT ERRONEOUSLY INDCD ANOTHER FACILITY HAD CTL OF THE FLT. THE RELIEVING CTLRS SAWTHE FULL DATA BLOCK ON THEIR SCOPES, BUT DISREGARDED IT, DUE TO THE ERRONEOUS CTL SYMBOL. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT HIT MTNS AT THE LAST ASSIGNED ALT OF 3000'. THE CFI HAD JUST MOVED FM FL TO CA & WAS ON HIS 2ND DAY OF EMPLOYMENT IN CA.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1048F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1048F-1992-08-12), registration cancelled 1992-08-12, S/N 17272938 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17272938
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: American Flyers,Inc.
- Registered owner: Charles C. Plank
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, September 18, 1986
- Departed: VNY, VAN NUYS, CA
- Destination: SMO, SANTA MONICA, CA
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 22; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; toxicology performed; flight hours: 543 total, 264 in this make and model, 497 as pilot in command, 89 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark

## 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 19861016049199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19861016049199A), Oct 16, 1986: Cessna 172N, Altadena, CA, Destroyed. PIC accepted ATC clearance that was below minimum altitude. Hit mountain. ATC failed to monitor the flight.

## Other investigations on N1048F (1)

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.

- [NTSB LAX81FUA05](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81FUA05), Feb 26, 1981: Cessna 172 (N1048F), Torrance, CA, substantial damage

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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