# NTSB LAX93LA091: Cessna 172, N20513, San Jacinto, CA, January 8, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 7, 1993, 16:10 local (Jan 8, 1993, 00:10 UTC)
- Place: San Jacinto, CA
- Location: 33.7989° N, 116.9959° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of San Jacinto, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7989&lon=-116.9959&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report October 25, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27904
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX93LA091
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27904/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX93LA091

## Probable cause

THE FLIGHT'S ENCOUNTER WITH UNFORECAST CLEAR AIR TURBULENCE.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - turbulence,clear air (cause)
- In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

THE PILOT WAS WHILE FLYING AT 10,500 FEET MSL ABOVE THE OVERCAST OVER A MOUNTAINOUS AREA.  THE FLIGHT ENCOUNTERED SEVERE CLEAR AIR TURBULENCE CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO ENTER INTO AN UNCONTROLLED ROLL.   WHEN THE PILOT REGAINED CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT IT HAD ENTERED THE CLOUDS.  BEFORE THE PILOT COULD EFFECT A TOTAL RECOVERY THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE TREES AT THE CREST OF THE MOUNTAIN.  THE ACCIDENT SITE ELEVATION IS 9,277 FEET MSL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N20513](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N20513-1993-03-26), registration cancelled 1993-03-26, S/N 17261351 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 6151
- Airframe hours: 3202
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Ross, Herman D. & Cherri L.
- Registered owner: Ross, Herman D. & Cherri L.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 10, 1992, 108 hours before
- Departed: YUM, YUMA, AZ
- Destination: PMD, PALMDALE, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 4,253 total, 645 in this make and model, 2,363 as pilot in command, 73 in the last 90 days, 58 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 30 knots
- Lowest ceiling: 100 ft overcast
- Temperature: 25 °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 19930107000949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930107000949A), Jan 7, 1993: Cessna 172M, San Jacinto, CA, Destroyed. Lost control due to clear air turbulance. VFR on top. Entered clouds. On control recovery struck tree. Crashed.

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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