# NTSB LAX88FA087: Cessna T210N, N7573N, Lost Hills, CA, January 16, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 15, 1988, 18:25 local (Jan 16, 1988, 02:25 UTC)
- Place: Lost Hills, CA
- Coordinates: 35.61061, -119.900505 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6106&lon=-119.9005&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 24, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25803
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX88FA087
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25803/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX88FA087

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, takeoff - initial climb
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather evaluation - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - vfr flight into imc - attempted, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent
  - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - climb - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

ON A DARK NIGHT WITH LIGHT DRIZZLE FALLING THE PVT PLT, WHO WAS NOT INSTRUMENT RATED, DEPARTED FROM AN UNCONTROLLED ARPT FOR A X-C FLT. THE PLT MADE A DOWNWIND DEPARTURE, & HIS ALTITUDE ON THE X-WIND LEG WAS ESTIMATED BY A PASSING TRUCK DRIVER AT 200 FT AGL. THE ACFT THEN TURNED DOWNWIND & DESCENDED UNTIL IT COLLIDED WITH A LEVEL PLOWED FIELD DEVOID OF LIGHTS. PATCHY GROUND FOG WAS OBSERVED NORTH OF THE CRASH SITE IN THE DIRECTION THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO FLY. A FEW MIN PRIOR TO TAKING OFF THE PLT HAD RECEIVED AN ABBREVIATED WEATHER BRIEFING. THE FSS SPECIALIST INFORMED THE PLT MARGINAL WX CONDITIONS EXISTED & HE DID NOT RECOMMEND VFR FLIGHT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7573N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7573N-1990-02-13), registration cancelled 1990-02-13, S/N 21063236 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA T210N
- Registry model: [Cessna T210N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210n) (registry code 2073456) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21063236
- Airframe hours: 1496
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSI0-520-R 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Seibold Corp.
- Registered owner: Seibold Corporation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 25, 1987, 104 hours before
- Departed: L84, LOST HILLS, CA
- Destination: SCK, STOCKTON, CA
- Airport: L84, Lost Hill/Kern Co

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 349 total, 144 in this make and model, 294 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Observed at: BFL, 33 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 19880115000639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880115000639A), Jan 15, 1988: Cessna T210N, Lost Hills, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Took off into marginal weather at night. Flew into ground wings level shortly after takeoff. Dark night rain fog.

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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