# NTSB LAX92FA043: Cessna 172M, N80274, Carmel Valley, CA, November 10, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: November 10, 1991, 11:49 local (19:49 UTC)
- Place: Carmel Valley, CA
- Coordinates: 36.389915, -121.65084 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.3899&lon=-121.6508&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report April 23, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27390
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX92FA043
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27390/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX92FA043

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A SAFE ALTITUDE ABOVE THE GROUND DURING AN INTENTIONAL LOW ALTITUDE FLIGHT IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.  CONTRIBUTING FACTORS RELATED TO THE PILOT BECOMING DISTRACTED WHILE FLYING OVER THE GROUND AND TO HIS FAILURE TO INITIATE A CLIMB OR TAKE OTHER CORRECTIVE ACTION BY ALTERING HIS COURSE IN A TIMELY MANNER TO AVOID COLLIDING WITH THE MOUNTAIN.

## Sequence of events

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

- Miscellaneous/other, cruise
  - light condition - daylight
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command
  - low pass - initiated, pilot in command
  - vfr procedures - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction
  - terrain condition - blind/box canyon
  - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
  - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

ON A CLR DAY WITH 15 MI VIS, THE PLT FLEW TO THE CARMEL VALLEY ARPT. WITNESSES SAID HE DSCNDD TO BTN 200' & 300' AGL (650' & 750' MSL), THEN FLEW PAST THE ARPT; INITIALLY THE GND TRACK WAS PARALLEL, BUT ABT 570 FT SOUTH OF RWY 29. WITNESSES SAID THE ACFT WAS FLYING SLOWLY; AFTER TRAVELING ABT 8/10 MI PAST THE ARPT, THE ACFT TURNED RGT & FLEW ABT 6/10 MI,   HDG TWD THE RISING TRRN OF A BOX CANYON. JUST BFR IMPACT, THE ACFT BGN A LEFT TURN & COLLIDED WITH 40 DEG UPSLOPING TRRN AT ABT 850' MSL. THE PILOT HAD FLOWN THE ACFT TO THE SAME ARPT 7 WKS EARLIER. A PILOT EXAMINER RPRTD THE ARPT WAS CLEARLY VISIBLE FM THE AIR & WAS NOT DIFFICULT TO LOCATE, ESPECIALLY AFTER HAVING ONCE BEEN THERE.  NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND WITH THE AIRFRAME OR ENG.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N80274](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N80274-1992-03-03), registration cancelled 1992-03-03, S/N 17266489 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M
- Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17266489
- Airframe hours: 5097
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: William T. Cleverdon, III, doing business as United Flight Services
- Registered owner: William T. Cleverdon, III
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 5, 1991, 89 hours before
- Departed: WVI, WATSONVILLE, CA
- Destination: 062, CARMEL VALLEY, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 158 total, 18 in this make and model, 97 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F

## 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 19911110050089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19911110050089A), Nov 10, 1991: Cessna 172M, Carmel Valley, CA, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Flew past airport into canyon and rising terrain. Struck brush and ground in a turn. Too low to clear upslope.

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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