# NTSB LAX92FA283: Cessna 336A, N3848U, Big Bear City, CA, November 15, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: November 14, 1991, 18:00 local (Nov 15, 1991, 02:00 UTC)
- Place: Big Bear City, CA
- Coordinates: 34.259552, -116.84024 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2596&lon=-116.8402&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 5 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 3, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27440
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX92FA283
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27440/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX92FA283

## Probable cause

1) THE PILOT INADEQUATELY EVALUATING THE WEATHER, AND 2) THE PILOT MAKING THE INFLIGHT DECISION TO CONTINUE FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS. FACTORS IN THIS ACCIDENT WERE 1) THE INABILITY OF THE PILOT TO SEE THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN DUE TO THE AMBIENT LIGHT CONDITIONS AND OBSCURATIONS, AND 2) THE PILOT'S LACK OF INSTRUMENT FLYING EXPERIENCE.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise - normal
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - weather evaluation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - vfr flight into imc - attempted, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT OBTAINED A BRIEFING FROM THE FAA FLIGHT SERVICE STATION PRIOR TO HIS PLANNED FLIGHT. THE BRIEFER, IN PART, TOLD THE PILOT  THAT MOUNTAIN OBSCURATIONS WERE FORECAST FOR CALIFORNIA. THE PILOT AND HIS 4 PASSENGERS DEPARTED ON THEIR PLANNED CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT.  THE AIRPLANE AND ITS OCCUPANTS DID NOT RETURN ON TIME AND FAMILY MEMBERS REPORTED THEM MISSING TO THE AUTHORITIES. A SEARCH WAS INITIATED, BUT WAS CALLED OFF THE NIGHT OF THE ACCIDENT DUE TO ADVERSE WEATHER. AFTER THREE WEEKS, THE OFFICIAL SEARCH WAS TERMINATED. THE PILOT'S FATHER CONTINUED THE SEARCH AND LOCATED THE DOWNED AIRPLANE WRECKAGE AT ABOUT THE 7,000 FOOT LEVEL OF A MOUNTAIN ABOUT 8 MONTHS AFTER IT WAS REPORTED MISSING. WITNESSES LOCATED NEAR THE ACCIDENT SITE THE NIGHT OF THE ACCIDENT, REPORTED THE MOUNTAINS WERE OBSCURED FROM ABOUT THE 4,000 FOOT LEVEL UP TO THEIR RESPECTIVE TOPS. THEY ALSO REPORTED 'HEAVY' SNOW IN THE AREA THE NIGHT OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT HAD LESS THAN ONE HOUR TOTAL INSTRUMENT FLIGHT TIME AND ABOUT 9 HOURS OF SIMULATED INSTRUMENT TIME.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3848U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3848U-1992-11-05), registration cancelled 1992-11-05, S/N 3360148 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 336A
- Registry model: [Cessna 336](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-336) (registry code 2075602) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 336-0148
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-360A 210 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Richard A. Niemela
- Registered owner: Richard A. Niemela
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Unknown, January 2, 2000
- Departed: P06, BULLHEAD CITY, AZ
- Destination: FUL, FULLERTON, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 27; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 471 total, 26 in this make and model, 381 as pilot in command, 61 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark

## 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 19911114063039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19911114063039A), Nov 14, 1991: Cessna 336, Big Bear City, CA, Destroyed, 5 fatal. Flew into trees on mountainside at night in snow and mountain obscuration. Airmets issued. Found 7 months later.

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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