# NTSB LAX92LA105: Cessna 170B, N39HP, Austin, NV, January 28, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 28, 1992, 12:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place: Austin, NV
- Coordinates: 39.491781, -117.06481 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4918&lon=-117.0648&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report August 26, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27547
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX92LA105
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27547/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX92LA105

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S DELAY IN REVERSING DIRECTION, HIS CONTINUED FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS, HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED AND INADVERTENT STALL WHILE MANEUVERING TO REVERSE DIRECTION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS WEATHER CONDITIONS THAT CONSISTED OF LOW CEILINGS, SNOW, AND ICING CONDITIONS.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly

## Analysis

THE CERTIFICATED COMMERCIAL PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT, WAS ON AN INTERMEDIATE SEGMENT OF A BUSINESS RELATED CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. SOME WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE FOLLOWING A HIGHWAY OVER A 7,500 FOOT MOUNTAIN PASS AT AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 300 FEET AGL. A SNOW STORM WITH VISIBILITY ESTIMATED AT ABOUT 120 FEET WAS IN PROGRESS. OVERCAST CEILINGS WERE ESTIMATED AT ABOUT 500 FEET AGL. AN AIRMET FOR TURBULENCE AND ICING CONDITIONS WAS IN EFFECT FOR THE AREA OF FLIGHT. OTHER WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE MANEUVER OVER THE HIGHWAY, TURN RIGHT AND DESCEND INTO THE TERRAIN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N39HP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N39HP-2012-09-12), registration cancelled 2012-09-12, S/N 25819, built 1953 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 170B
- Registry model: [Cessna 170B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170b) (registry code 2072306) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C145 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c145-series) (registry code 17012, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 25819
- Airframe hours: 1652
- Engines: CONTINENTAL C-145-2 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Howard L. Prescott
- Registered owner: Howard L. Prescott
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 24, 1992, 7 hours before
- Departed: BAM, BATTLE MTN, NV
- Destination: L66, CORONA, CA
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: expired; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,800 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 7 knots
- Lowest ceiling: 500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 21 °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 19920128001219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920128001219A), Jan 28, 1992: Cessna 170B, Austin, NV, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. Impacted rising terrain while trying to negotiate a highway pass in heavy snow storm.

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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