Rockwell 112B N1232J accident, La Grange, CA, Sep 16, 1989 · NTSB LAX89FA304

Probable cause

Continued VFR flight into instrument meteorlogical conditions (IMC) by the pilot, which resulted in spatial disorientation and loss of aircraft control. Related factors were: flight into known adverse weather by the pilot, the adverse weather conditions, and the pilot's lack of instrument flight capabilities.

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.

In flight encounter with weatherCruise

Flight into known adverse weather - initiatedPilot in commandFactor

Weather condition - low ceilingFactor

Weather condition - high windFactor

Weather condition - rainFactor

Weather condition - obscurationFactor

Terrain condition - high obstruction(s)

Vfr flight into imc - continuedPilot in commandCause

Loss of control - in flightCruise

Aircraft control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause

Spatial disorientationPilot in commandCause

Lack of total instrument timePilot in commandFactor

In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled

Terrain condition - water

Analysis

Before depg on the acdnt flt, the plt obtained a wx briefing & was advised of rain showers along his entire route. Also, he was warned of thunderstorm activity throughout all of California. He filed a VFR flt plan & took off. Shortly after takeoff, he activated the flt plan, then there was no further communication with the acft. About 1 hr later, the acft was observed flying at low altitude. As the acft apchd a sign, it was observed to enter a climb & disappear in a low cloud layer. Shortly thereafter, it was observed by another witness in a dive as it descended below the clouds. Moments later, the acft crashed in a lake. An exam of the wreckage revealed the acft had impacted the water with very high velocity. No preimpact part failure/malfunction of the acft was found. The non-instrument rated pilot had only about 3 hrs of instrument flt time. Witnesses rprtd thunderstorms & lightning in the area; they estimated there was about a 500 ft obscuration with 1/2 mi visibility, blowing rain & wind from 135 deg at 15 gusting 20 KTS.

Aircraft

Registration: N1232J
Reported as: Rockwell 112B
Category: Airplane
Serial number: 502
Engine: Lycoming O-360, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage: Destroyed
Flight: Personal · Part 91
Registered owner: Frank Spevak
Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
Last inspection: Annual · August 6, 1987
Departed: LTA · S Lake Tahoe, CA
Destination: BUR · Burbank, CA
Flight plan: VFR
Airport: 068 · Mariposa

N1232JRegistration cancelled Oct 30, 1989 · Rockwell International 112BS/N 502 Airframe modelRockwell International 112B

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: 44
Certificate: Private
Airplane ratings: Single-engine land
Medical: Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat: Left
Flight hours: 277 total · 145 in this make and model · 195 as pilot in command · 24 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions: Instrument (IMC) · Day
Wind: 135° at 15 knots, gusting 20
Temperature: 70 °F

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Accident 19890916034989AGulstm 112B · La Grange, CAOperated into area of thunderstorms rain and turbulence. Lost control crashed into a lake at high speed.Sep 16, 1989 · N1232J · Destroyed · 2 fatal