# NTSB LAX91FA173: Cessna 182F, N3458U, Young, AZ, March 22, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 22, 1991, 08:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place: Young, AZ
- Coordinates: 34.079349, -111.009231 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0793&lon=-111.0092&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 13, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26994
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX91FA173
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26994/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX91FA173

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE IN-FLIGHT DECISION TO CONTINUE VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS AND THE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE RESULTING IN AN INFLIGHT COLLISION WITH TERRAIN.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - preflight briefing service - not obtained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - snow covered
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly

## Analysis

THIS WAS A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. THE WEATHER CONDITIONS AT THE DEPARTURE AND DESTINATION WERE VFR. INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS WERE FORECASTED ALONG THE ROUTE OF FLIGHT. A SNOW STORM WAS REPORTED BY WITNESSES IN THE AREA OF THE ACCIDENT. WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE REPORTED TO BE ICING AND TURBULENCE, WITH MOUNTAINS OBSCURED BY CLOUDS. THE AIRPLANE WAS REPORTED OVERDUE AND LOCATED 3 WEEKS LATER. THE AIRPLANE WAS FOUND TO HAVE IMPACTED SNOW COVERED TERRAIN, AT HIGH SPEED, IN A NEAR VERTICAL, NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3458U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3458U-2013-07-15), registration cancelled 2013-07-15, S/N 18254858, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182F
- Registry model: [Cessna 182F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182f) (registry code 2072714) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18254858
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-R 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Arizona Air Enteprizes
- Registered owner: R.Segerman B.Phillips L.Mallow
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 1990
- Departed: DVT, PHOENIX, AZ
- Destination: SOW, SHOWLOW, AZ

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 332 total, 31 in this make and model, 266 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Observed at: 0E4, 24 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 19910322011449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910322011449A), Mar 22, 1991: Cessna 182F, Young, AZ, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Lost control in area of heavy snow showers. Vertical impact into dense trees. Severe icing and mountains obscured.

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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