- Date
- October 19, 1988, 08:12 local (15:12 UTC)
- Place
- Paso Robles, CA
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N739YSCessna TR-182
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 25, 1990
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19881019046629A
- Case key
- 26184
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot failed to maintain the proper altitude while executing the published instrument approach procedure.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The plt departed VFR and while en route encounted IMC near the destination. The plt requested an IFR clearance for a vor-dme apch. The plt was informed by ATC to expect a delay due to another acft executing the missed apch. The plt was issued the wx as indefinate 200 OBS, vis 1/4 mile. One mile vis was required for a straight-in landing. The plt accepted the apch clearance and started a descent. The acft descended 1,200 below the apch profile and collided with trees. Post accident investigation revealed the plt was very familiar with the terrain and was knowledgeable of ranch airstrips where he had landed previous to this flt to wait out the wx at the same destination arpt. The course being flown by the plt would have taken him direct to one of these ranches.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N739YS
- Reported as
- Cessna TR-182
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- R 182 01017
- Engine
- Lycoming O-540-L3C5D, 235 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Patroline, Inc.
- Registered owner
- Robert H. Miller
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · September 12, 1988 · 52 hours before
- Departed
- VIS · Visalia, CA
- Destination
- PRB · Paso Robles, CA
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 64
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Unknown, Unknown
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 17,900 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Wind
- 360° at 3 knots
- Lowest ceiling
- 200 ft
- Temperature
- 54 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- PRB, 8 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.