# NTSB LAX89FA010: Cessna 182R, N1787R, Salinas, CA, October 7, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 6, 1988, 18:08 local (Oct 7, 1988, 01:08 UTC)
- Place: Salinas, CA
- Coordinates: 36.67073, -121.610588 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6707&lon=-121.6106&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 11, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26180
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX89FA010
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26180/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89FA010

## Probable cause

THE PILOT FAILED TO FOLLOW PUBLISHED MISSED APPROACH PROCEDURES. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE PILOT LACK OF RECENT EXPERIENCE IN TYPE OF OPERATION, INSTRUMENT GO-AROUND PROCEDURES, AND THE CLOUD COVERED MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, missed approach (ifr)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - missed approach - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)

## Analysis

AFTER RECEIVING A LIMITED WEATHER BRIEFING THAT REPORTED AN OVERCAST SKY AT 1,500 FEET AGL AT HIS DESTINATION, THE PILOT TOOKOFF WITHOUT FILING A FLIGHT PLAN. UPON ARRIVING AT HIS DESTINATION, ABOVE THE WEATHER, THE PILOT REQUESTED AND RECEIVED AN ILS APPROACH TO THE AIRPORT. AFTER PASSING THE INITIAL APPROACH FIX AND DESCENDING TO 2,200 FEET MSL OUTSIDE THE OUTER MARKER, THE PILOT INFORMED THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER THAT HE WAS EXECUTING A MISSED APPROACH. THIS WAS THE LAST COMMUNICATION WITH THE AIRCRAFT. APPROXIMATELY ONE MINUTE AND THIRTY FIVE SECONDS LATER THE CONTROLLER HEARD AN ELT SIGNAL. THE AIRCRAFT'S WRECKAGE WAS FOUND AT 0700 HOURS PDT ON OCTOBER 7, 1988, BY A GROUND SEARCH PARTY. THE WRECKAGE WAS AT AN ELEVATION OF 2,350 FEET, ON THE SIDE OF A 3,560 FOOT HIGH MOUNTAIN, ABOUT 7 MILES SOUTH OF THE ILS APPROACH COURSE. ANOTHER PILOT WHO WAS AIRBORNE IN THE AREA ABOUT 30 MINUTES AFTER THE ACCIDENT PILOT REPORTED HIS MISSED APPROACH STATED THAT THE CLOUD TOPS WERE AT 2,400 FEET.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1787R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1787R-1991-11-27), registration cancelled 1991-11-27, S/N R18200560 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182R
- Registry model: [Cessna R182](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-r182) (registry code 2072734) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: R18200560
- Airframe hours: 1218
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540-J3C5D 235 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Eugene E. Urgo
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 3, 1988, 10 hours before
- Departed: FAT, FRESNO, CA
- Destination: WVI, WATSONVILLE, CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: SNS, Salinas Mun.

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 70; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 8,000 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 300° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,800 ft overcast
- Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SNS, 13 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 19881006045739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881006045739A), Oct 6, 1988: Cessna R182, Salinas, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Struck side of a mountain during a missed ILS approach. Dark night with overcast.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.