# NTSB LAX93FA165: Cessna 152, N89174, Dunsmuir, CA, March 30, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 29, 1993, 20:10 local (Mar 30, 1993, 04:10 UTC)
- Place: Dunsmuir, CA
- Coordinates: 41.190498, -122.2602 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1905&lon=-122.2602&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report February 10, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27829
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX93FA165
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27829/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX93FA165

## Probable cause

AN INADVERTENT ENCOUNTER WITH RAIN AND ICING CONDITIONS.  FACTORS IN THIS ACCIDENT INCLUDED ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS CONSISTING OF RAIN, ICING, AND DARKNESS, AND THE PILOT'S OVERCONFIDENCE IN HIS ABILITIES TO DEAL WITH THE ENCOUNTERED WEATHER CONDITIONS.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - weather evaluation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - light condition - night (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly

## Analysis

AFTER RECEIVING A WEATHER BRIEFING, THE COMMERCIAL/INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT, DEPARTED ON A NIGHT CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.  THE FORECASTED WEATHER CONDITIONS INCLUDED SCATTERED CLOUDS AT 4,000 TO 6,000 FEET, BROKEN CLOUDS AT 8,000 FEET WITH A FREEZING LEVEL OF 7,000 FEET.  NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED.  NO FURTHER CONTACT WITH THE AIRPLANE WAS FOUND UNTIL THE WRECKAGE OF THE AIRPLANE WAS LOCATED 7 DAYS AFTER DEPARTURE.  WITNESSES IN THE AREA OF THE ACCIDENT REPORTED CONTINUOUS RAIN ON THE NIGHT OF THE ACCIDENT.  THE LAST NTAP RADAR DATA OF THE AIRPLANE SHOWED A DESCENT FROM 8,000 FEET TO 7,400 FEET BEFORE CONTACT WAS LOST.  A METEOROLOGICAL STUDY OF THE ACCIDENT AREA REVEALED AREAS OF LIGHT RAIN WITH A FREEZING LEVEL OF 6,300 FEET.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N89174](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N89174-1994-04-22), registration cancelled 1994-04-22, S/N 15282660 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 152
- Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15282660
- Airframe hours: 6663
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 115 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Palo Alto Flying Club
- Registered owner: Minot, Thomas
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 16, 1993
- Departed: S03, ASHLAND, OR
- Destination: PAO, PALO ALTO, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 63; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 534 total, 24 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 160° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: RDD, 30 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 19930329007979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930329007979A), Mar 29, 1993: Cessna 152, Dunsmuir, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Impacted mountainous terrain on VFR flight. Impacted ground about 90 degree nose down altitude. Post impact fire.

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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