# NTSB LAX93LA243: Cessna 172, N6185E, Montgomery Pass, NV, June 5, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 5, 1993, 14:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Montgomery Pass, NV - Coordinates: 38.180805, -118.450012 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.1808&lon=-118.4500&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report November 15, 1993 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28398 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX93LA243 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28398/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX93LA243 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S POOR PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION AND INTENTIONAL FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. FACTORS RELATING TO THIS ACCIDENT WERE THE DOWNDRAFT, LOW CEILING, RAIN, OBSCURATION, AND THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor) - weather condition - rain (contributing factor) - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor) - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor) - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor) - planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause) - vfr flight into imc - intentional, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis THE NONINSTRUMENT RATED PILOT DEPARTED TOWARD AN AREA OF KNOWN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS WITH THE MOUNTAIN TOPS OBSCURED BY CLOUDS AND RAIN. WHEN THE AIRPLANE APPROACHED THE MOUNTAINOUS AREA THE PILOT EXECUTED A 180 DEGREE TURN. THE RIGHT WING COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN DURING THE TURN. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE DID NOT EXPERIENCE ANY PREIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES ## Factual narrative On June 5, 1993, at about 1400 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172, N6185E, collided with the terrain near Montgomery Pass, Nevada. The pilot was conducting a visual flight rules personal flight to Paso Robles, California, with a planned refueling stop at Bishop, California. The airplane, registered to and operated by the pilot, was destroyed. The certificated private pilot sustained serious injuries; his passenger sustained minor injuries. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the accident site. The flight originated at Rawlins, Wyoming, on June 4, 1993, and landed at Ely, Nevada; the flight departed Ely, Nevada, on June 5, 1993, at 0930 hours and landed at Tonopah Airport, Tonopah, Nevada, for fuel; the flight departed Tonopah Airport at about 1330 hours. Ground witnesses reported that after departing Tonopah Airport, the pilot "flew down main street at a very low altitude." Other witnesses reported that low clouds obscured the mountain peaks near the accident site. The pilot reported in a written statement to the Mineral County Sheriff's Department, Tonopah, Nevada, that light rain existed at Tonopah, Nevada, when he departed, but that the ceiling was between 2,000 to 3,000 feet above the ground. The aircraft encountered a severe downdraft when it approached Montgomery Pass. The pilot executed a right 180 degree turn, but the right wing struck the rising terrain during the turn. The pilot stated in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2, that while flying at 2,500 feet above the ground the flight encountered a "...severe downdraft, sinker, wind shear..." with no time to return. Realizing that a ground impact was imminent, the pilot elected to land in an open area. The pilot indicated in the accident report that the airplane did not experience any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6185E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6185E-2013-04-26), registration cancelled 2013-04-26, S/N 46285, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172) (registry code 2072402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 46285 - Airframe hours: 4524 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-300 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Schneider, George & Donna - Registered owner: Schneider, George & Donna - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, June 13, 1992, 170 hours before - Departed: TPH, TONOPAH, NV - Destination: BIH, BISHOP, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 867 total, 855 in this make and model, 845 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 9 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 10 knots - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,200 ft overcast - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: TPH, 67 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 19930605016999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930605016999A), Jun 5, 1993: Cessna 172, Montgomery Pass, NV, Destroyed. Struck mountainside trying to turn around due IMC in Pass. Blamed downdraft. Observed low over street in tonopah. ## Other investigations on N6185E (1) 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. - [NTSB SEA72FTI11](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA72FTI11), Jan 19, 1972: Cessna 172 (N6185E), Kalispell, MT, substantial damage 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.