# NTSB LAX93FA046: Cessna 172N, N737WZ, Tehachapi, CA, November 20, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: November 19, 1992, 18:05 local (Nov 20, 1992, 02:05 UTC)
- Place: Tehachapi, CA
- Coordinates: 35.120212, -118.509651 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1202&lon=-118.5097&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report October 15, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27812
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX93FA046
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27812/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX93FA046

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S DECISION TO CRUISE AT AN ALTITUDE INADEQUATE TO ENSURE TERRAIN CLEARANCE. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO OBTAIN A PREFLIGHT WEATHER BRIEFING, THE DARK NIGHT, AND LIKELY 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
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Miscellaneous/other, other
  - communications/information/atc - not followed, atc personnel(dep/apch)

## Analysis

THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED INTO A 7,800-FT MOUNTAIN AT THE 6,400-FT LEVEL, APRX 1 MI NORTH OF A PLANNED ROUTE. THE PILOT HAD FLOWN THE COURSE OVER 100 TIMES DURING THE PREVIOUS 6 MONTHS. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED OVER THE MOUNTAINOUS FLIGHT ROUTE. THE PILOT HAD ON PREVIOUS OCCASIONS GIVEN DUAL INSTRUMENT FLIGHT INSTRUCTION TO PASSENGERS DURING AIR TAXI CARGO FLIGHTS IN IMC. EVIDENCE SHOWS THAT BOTH OCCUPANTS SURVIVED THE CRASH; THE FORENSIC PATHOLOGIST WHO PERFORMED THE AUTOPSIES REPORTED THAT THE OCCUPANTS MIGHT HAVE SURVIVED IF THEY HAD BEEN PROMPTLY RESCUED. AN ELT SIGNAL WAS FIRST HEARD AT 1815. AT 1900 THE FAA RCVD A TELEPHONE CALL FROM A CONCERNED RELATIVE OF THE PILOT. AT 1956 A NAVY PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD PICKED UP A MAYDAY CALL. THE RESCUE COORDINATION CENTER AT SCOTT AFB OPENED THE INCIDENT CASE FOR THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE FOLLOWING RECEIPT OF NOTIFICATION FROM THE FAA AT 2001. THE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND THE FOLLOWING DAY AT 1735.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N737WZ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N737WZ-1993-04-30), registration cancelled 1993-04-30, S/N 17269743 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17269743
- Airframe hours: 5956
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Desmond E. Mc Carthy
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, September 16, 1992, 90 hours before
- Departed: WJF, LANCASTER, CA
- Destination: BFL, BAKERSFIELD, CA
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 69; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; toxicology performed; flight hours: 10,300 total, 103 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Night/dark
- Wind: 240° at 20 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 23 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: WJF, 25 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 19921119047549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19921119047549A), Nov 19, 1992: Cessna 172N, Techachapi, CA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Flew into a cloud obscured mountain. Dark night on a VFR flight plan. Survived crash but died prior to rescue.

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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