# NTSB LAX90LA200: Cessna 182, N49565, Cucamonga, CA, May 29, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 29, 1990, 08:38 local (15:38 UTC)
- Place: Cucamonga, CA
- Coordinates: 34.140041, -117.610458 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1400&lon=-117.6105&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report November 23, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26826
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX90LA200
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26826/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX90LA200

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S CONTINUING VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS RESULTING IN COLLISION WITH TERRAIN.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - clouds
  - weather evaluation - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - delayed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly

## Analysis

THE PILOT WAS CRUISING AT 6,500 FEET WHEN HE ENCOUNTERED A SOLID OVERCAST CLOUD LAYER. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE MADE A DESCENDING 180 DEGREE TURN TO FIND AN ALTERNATE AIRPORT. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AT ABOUT 6,000 FEET MSL. A WEATHER BRIEFING OBTAINED BY THE PILOT PRIOR TO FLIGHT INDICATED THAT CEILINGS WERE 6,000 TO 8,000 FEET WITH MOUNTAINS OBSCURED. RESCUE PERSONNEL DID NOT LOCATE THE WRECKAGE FOR 10 HOURS DUE TO POOR WEATHER CONDITIONS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N49565](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N49565-1990-12-12), registration cancelled 1990-12-12, S/N 18267157 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182
- Registry model: [Cessna 182](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182) (registry code 2072702) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18267157
- Airframe hours: 1160
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-U 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: John R. Thomas
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 1989, 14 hours before
- Departed: BLH, BLYTHE, CA
- Destination: POC, LA VERNE, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 209 total, 26 in this make and model, 167 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19900529017779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900529017779A), May 29, 1990: Cessna 182, Rancho Cucamong, CA, Destroyed. Descending trying to avoid low clouds flew into cloud obscured terrain in mountainous area.

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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