# NTSB LAX93LA354: Cessna 152, N49813, Hesperia, CA, September 16, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 16, 1993, 00:50 local (07:50 UTC) - Place: Hesperia, CA - Coordinates: 34.360881, -117.320388 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.3609&lon=-117.3204&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 30, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28476 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX93LA354 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28476/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX93LA354 ## Probable cause THE PILOT IN COMMAND NOT MAINTAINING A PROPER GLIDEPATH. FACTORS PERTAINING TO THIS ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT IN COMMAND NOT OBTAINING A WEATHER FORECAST FOR THE RETURN FLIGHT, AND THE LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIEINCE IN NIGHT FLYING. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, descent - normal - object - wire,transmission - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot in command (contributing factor) - proper glidepath - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather forecast - not obtained, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis IN HIS WRITTEN STATEMENT, THE PILOT REPORTED HE ENCOUNTERED INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS UNDERNEATH THE AIRPLANE AS HE ENTERED A MOUNTAIN PASS EN ROUTE TO HIS DESTINATION. HE REQUESTED VECTORS AND DIVERTED TO HESPERIA AIRPORT. HE REPORTED HE ENCOUNTERED DIFFICULTIES ACTIVATING THE PILOT CONTROLLED AIRPORT LIGHTS. HE STATED HE THOUGHT HE WAS SET UP ON A 'NORMAL NIGHT APPROACH' TO THE RUNWAY WHEN HE HIT POWERLINES ABOUT 300 FEET SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. HE REPORTED NO MECHANICAL DIFFICULTIES WITH THE AIRPLANE PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT DID NOT OBTAIN A WEATHER FORECAST FOR THE FLIGHT. THE PILOT FILED A VFR FLIGHT PLAN, BUT FORGOT TO OPEN THE FLIGHT PLAN. THE PILOT HAD 9 HOURS OF TOTAL NIGHT EXPERIENCE, 6 OF WHICH WERE AS PIC. ## Factual narrative On September 16, 1993, at 0050 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 152, N49813, collided with transmission wires and crashed while on final approach to runway 21 at Hesperia Airport, Hesperia, California. The airplane, registered to and operated by the Mount San Antonio College Association Student Flying Club, Walnut, California, sustained substantial damage. The certificated private pilot and his passenger were not injured. The flight originated at Las Vegas, Nevada, at 2140 hours and was destined for Bracket Airport, La Verne, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was filed, but not activated. According to the written statement received from the pilot, as reported in the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated that he departed Brackett Airport at approximately 1600 hours on September 15, 1993. The pilot said he received a weather briefing from Riverside Flight Service Station prior to departure. The pilot stated he departed McCarran International Airport, Las Vegas, Nevada, and proceeded towards Brackett Airport without incident until he encountered an overcast layer underneath the airplane as he entered the Cajon Pass. The pilot said he requested assistance from Ontario terminal radar approach control facility (TRACON). The sector controller vectored the airplane towards Rialto Airport until it was determined that Rialto was also affected by the overcast layer of clouds. The sector controller then vectored the airplane towards Hesperia Airport. The pilot stated he encountered "some difficulties activating the pilot controlled runway lighting system" at the airport. He stated he circled the airport a few times trying to get the runway lights on. He finally got the airport lights to activate, and began a "normal night approach" to Runway 3. The pilot stated at approximately 300 feet short of the runway, the airplane struck power lines and crashed upright into a gully. The pilot said he did not know what caused the impact until he hit the powerline. He stated he believed he was going to make it to the airport safely. In an oral interview on the afternoon of the accident, the pilot told Safety Board investigators that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane or the engine. The pilot said he filed a VFR flight plan but forgot to activate it with the flight service station. According to the FAA safety inspector who examined the airplane, fuel was found in the left tank. He stated the pilot did not receive a weather briefing prior to the return flight to the Los Angeles area. Safety Board investigators contacted the airport manager at the Hesperia Airport. The airport manager said to the best of his knowledge, there were no reports of any difficulties with the pilot controlled lighting system. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N49813](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N49813-2012-12-10), registration cancelled 2012-12-10, S/N 15281334, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 152 - Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15281334 - Airframe hours: 7184 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Mount San Antonio College, doing business as Assoc. Student Flying Club - Registered owner: Mount San Antonio College - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 2, 1993, 30 hours before - Departed: LAS, LAS VEGAS, NV - Destination: POC, LA VERNE, CA - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: L26, Hesperia Airport, runway 21, 3,910 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 18; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 106 total, 102 in this make and model, 45 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 280° at 11 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: DAG, 35 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 19930916034459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930916034459A), Sep 16, 1993: Cessna 152, Hesperia, CA, Substantial damage. Struck powerlines on night approach to alternate airport. Destination airport was fogged in. 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.