# NTSB LAX91FA247: Cessna C-172, N5814A, Lakeside, CA, June 6, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: June 5, 1991, 22:37 local (Jun 6, 1991, 05:37 UTC)
- Place: Lakeside, CA
- Coordinates: 32.900405, -116.889114 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9004&lon=-116.8891&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 27, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27005
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX91FA247
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27005/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX91FA247

## Probable cause

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO REQUEST RADAR ASSISTANCE TO AVOID LOW CEILINGS IN HIGH TERRAIN AND THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE VISUAL OUTLOOK WHICH ULTIMATELY RESULTED IN AN INFLIGHT COLLISION WITH HIGH TERRAIN.  CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE WEATHER CONDITIONS SPECIFICALLY LOW CLOUDS AND THE LIGHT CONDITIONS OF THE DARK NIGHT.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, maneuvering
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - light condition - night
  - in flight weather avoidance assistance - not obtained, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - terrain condition - high terrain
  - radar assistance to vfr aircraft - disregarded, pilot in command (cause)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

A CESSNA 172 COLLIDED WITH MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN DURING NIGHT VFR FLT.  THE PLT WAS NON-INSTRUMENT RATED AND WAS VFR ON TOP OF A 1,500 FT CEILING ABOVE HIS DEST.  THE PLT WAS IN RADIO AND RADAR CONTACT WITH THE LOCAL TRACON. THE PLT DID NOT REQUEST ASSISTANCE FROM THE TRACON TO AVOID THE WX CONDITIONS.  INSTEAD THE PLT ELECTED TO FIND A HOLE IN THE OVERCAST.  THE TRACON ISSUED A WARNING TO THE PLT OF HIGH TERRAIN.  THE PLT ELECTED TO CONTINUE FLIGHT BELOW THE MINIMUM VECTORING ALTITUDE UNDER HIS OWN NAVIGATION AND REPORTED THAT HE HAD GND CONTACT.  THE TRACON THEN INFORMED THE PLT OF HIS LOCATION RELATIVE TO THE APRT AND INFORMED HIM HE WAS HEADING TOWARDS THE HIGH TERRAIN.  HIS ALT READOUT WAS ABOUT 2,600 FT MSL. THE PLT THEN REQUESTED A VECTOR TO THE APRT.  THE TRACON INFORMED THE PLT OF A WESTBOUND HEADING TO THE APRT.  THE PLT TURNED TO THE HEADING AND THEN REVERSE COURSE AND HEADED EAST TOWARDS EVEN HIGHER TERRAIN.  RADAR AND RADIO CONTACT WAS LOST.  THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE EAST SLOPE OF A 1,868 FT RIDGE AT 1,500 LVL ON A SOUTHERLY HEADING.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5814A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5814A-1991-10-16), registration cancelled 1991-10-16, S/N 28414 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA C-172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172) (registry code 2072402) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28414
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-300 B 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Turner, Robert W.
- Registered owner: Turner, Robert W.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 13, 1991, 25 hours before
- Departed: BFL, BAKERSFIELD, CA
- Destination: SEE, EL CAJON, CA
- Airport: SEE, Gilliespie

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 290 total, 274 in this make and model, 257 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 310° at 1 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,200 ft overcast
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: NKX, 17 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 19910605020139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910605020139A), Jun 5, 1991: Cessna 172, El Cajon, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Maneuvering to get below clouds struck mountainside. Was advised altitude not safe. VFR pilot on top,no wx brief.

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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