# NTSB LAX91FA133: Cessna 320D, N3302Q, Gorman, CA, March 13, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 13, 1991, 10:12 local (18:12 UTC)
- Place: Gorman, CA
- Coordinates: 34.859912, -118.870536 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8599&lon=-118.8705&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 2, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26987
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX91FA133
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26987/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX91FA133

## Probable cause

VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC) BY THE PILOT, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE/CLEARANCE FROM MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE TERRAIN AND WEATHER CONDITIONS.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE ACFT HAD BEEN IN THE PHOENIX AREA FOR REPAIRS & FOR INSTN OF AVIONICS, AND WAS ON A TRIP TO ANCHORAGE VIA SEATTLE. BFR DEPG LAKE HAVASU CITY, THE PLT RCVD A WX BRIEFING, BUT DID NOT FILE A FLT PLAN.  THERE WERE FLT PRCTNS FOR MODERATE TURBC BELOW 16,000', MODERATE ICING IN CLDS & MTN OBSCN.  THE PLT REQD & RCVD TFC ADZY FROM EDWARDS APCH CTL WHILE TRANSITING THE PALMDALE ATA.  DURING THAT TIME, HE REQD & RCVD THE BAKERSFIELD WX.  AT ABOUT 1007 PST, RADAR SERVICE WAS TERMINATED.  ABOUT 1 MIN LATER, RADAR CTC WAS LOST AS THE ACFT WAS CRUISING AT 4500' MSL.  SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT CRASHED INTO RISING TRRN IN THE TEHACHAPI MTS, ABOUT 15 MI FROM WHERE RADAR CTC WAS LOST.  IMPACT OCCURRED ABOUT 75' BELOW THE TOP OF A RIDGE AT AN ELEV OF ABOUT 6000'.  AN EXAM OF THE CRASH SITE REVEALED EVIDENCE THE ACFT HAD CRASHED IN A WINGS LEVEL ATTITUDE.  NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE ACFT OR ENG WAS FND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3302Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3302Q-1991-07-15), registration cancelled 1991-07-15, S/N 320D0102 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 320D
- Registry model: [Cessna 320D](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-320d) (registry code 2074512) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 0102
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-B 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: John P. Culhane
- Registered owner: John P. Culhane
- Last inspection: Unknown, January 2, 2000
- Departed: LHU, LAKE HAVASU CTY, AZ
- Destination: SEA, SEATTLE, WA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; toxicology performed; flight hours: 8,000 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 16 knots, gusting 23
- Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Observed at: PMD, 30 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 19910313005509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910313005509A), Mar 13, 1991: Cessna 320D, Gorman, CA, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Flew into side of mountain. Possible mountain obscurement in briefing. Seen reversing course and descend on radar.

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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