# NTSB LAX92FA330: Mercury 1, N4625T, Pacifica, CA, August 3, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 2, 1992, 18:00 local (Aug 3, 1992, 01:00 UTC)
- Place: Pacifica, CA
- Coordinates: 37.609447, -122.480018 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6094&lon=-122.4800&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 30, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27445
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX92FA330
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27445/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX92FA330

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S DECISION TO ATTEMPT VISUAL FLIGHT IN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise
  - vfr flight into imc - attempted, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly

## Analysis

THE PILOT AND HIS PASSENGER DEPARTED ON A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT AFTER AN INTERMEDIATE RE-FUELING STOP. THEY REPORTEDLY INTENDED TO DO SOME SIGHTSEEING EN ROUTE. DURING THEIR FLIGHT THEY ENCOUNTERED INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS AND COLLIDED WITH HILLY/MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. WITNESSES LOCATED ABOUT 300 YARDS FROM THE ACCIDENT SITE REPORTED THE TERRAIN IN THE VICINITY OF THE ACCIDENT WAS OBSCURED BY GROUND FOG. THEY SAID THEY COULD HEAR THE AIRPLANE, BUT COULD NOT SEE IT DUE TO WEATHER CONDITIONS. AN FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR EXAMINED THE AIRPLANE AND ENGINE AT THE ACCIDENT LOCATION. HE NOTED THAT THE AIRPLANE'S WOODEN PROPELLER SHATTERED ON IMPACT AND DETERMINED THE ENGINE WAS PRODUCING POWER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4625T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4625T-1994-04-25), registration cancelled 1994-04-25, S/N 1 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MERCURY 1
- Registry model: [Moran Craig A 162F](https://openairdocs.org/model/moran-craig-a-162f) (registry code 05601TU) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 1
- Engines: LYCOMING O-290 108 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Paul Beaulac
- Registered owner: Paul Beaulac
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Unknown, January 2, 2000
- Departed: O01, SANTA ROSA, CA
- Destination: PAO, PALO ALTO, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; private, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,280 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Lowest ceiling: 50 ft
- Temperature: 50 °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 19920802028739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920802028739A), Aug 2, 1992: Amd MERCURE100C, Pacifica, CA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Flew into side of fog obscured hill in near zero IMC.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.