Cessna 182Q N95902

Summary

On 31 October 2004 at about 19:30 local time, a Cessna 182Q registered N95902 was involved in an accident near Lebec, California, United States. 4 people were on board and 4 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

31 October 2004 at 19:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Lebec, California, United States

Coordinates

34.8358, -118.7683

Aircraft

Cessna 182Q

Registration

N95902

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lancaster → Coalinga

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX05FA023

4 people died.

the pilot's inadequate in-flight planning/decision by his VFR flight into IMC, and his failure to maintain terrain clearance. Contributing factors were mountainous terrain, low ceilings, and turbulence.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

While traversing a mountain range between two valleys, the aircraft collided with mountainous terrain after a likely encounter with clouds, moderate turbulence, and up and down drafts in the 500- to 1,000-foot-per-minute range. Examination of the wreckage and the accident site showed that the airplane collided with mountainous terrain while in a wings level cruise flight attitude. The autopilot switch was found in the ON position. The noninstrument rated private pilot departed in VFR conditions with three passengers for a 134-mile trip to celebrate one passenger's birthday at a fly-in restaurant destination. There were no records of the pilot having received weather briefings from any Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) facilities. Recorded radar data showed that instead of flying a direct route the airplane meandered towards a mountain top VOR navigational aid and eventually was about 18 miles off a direct course between the departure and destination airports. About 30 minutes into the flight, the airplane had reversed course and was headed back towards the open desert departure area when radar contact was lost. A moderate north-south surface pressure gradient produced strong, gusty northerly low-level winds over the higher elevations of the mountain range. Observations from satellite imagery indicated that mostly clear skies were present from the departure airport until the accident airplane reached the vicinity of the accident area. A weather satellite visible image showed that cloud cover from the northwest did cover the accident site around the estimated time of the accident though there were clear areas south and west of the VOR. Cloud bases reported around the VOR ranged from on the surface to less than 1,000 feet agl, with tops generally 8,000-10,000 feet mean sea level (msl) in the area. No in-flight advisories (SIGMET or AIRMET) were valid for the accident location when the accident airplane departed. However, AIRMET TANGO was updated at 1335, to include a forecast of occasional moderate turbulence below 12,000 feet over coastal mountain areas. According to pilot reports from very near the accident area around the time of the crash, moderate turbulence and up and down drafts were being experienced from 500 feet to 1,200 feet per minute. There are two small lakes in the vicinity of the VOR. Overflying one lake on the accident flight's last radar observed heading would take the airplane over low terrain on a route back toward the departure airport, whereas overflying the second lake on the last observed heading would take the airplane toward mountainous terrain that rises to 5,430 feet msl within 2 miles, and is the location of the accident site.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.