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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

October 7, 1988 · Cessna 182R · N1787R

Salinas, CA

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 7, 1988
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Salinas, CA
Aircraft
Cessna 182R
Tail Number
N1787R
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX89FA010

After receiving a limited weather briefing that reported an overcast sky at 1,500 feet AGL at his destination, the pilot took off without filing a flight plan. Upon arriving at his destination, above the weather, the pilot requested and received an ILS approach to the airport. After passing the initial approach fix and descending to 2,200 feet MSL outside the outer marker, the pilot informed the air traffic controller that he was executing a missed approach. This was the last communication with the aircraft. Approximately one minute and thirty-five seconds later the controller heard an ELT signal. The aircraft's wreckage was found at 0700 hours PDT on October 7, 1988, by a ground search party. The wreckage was at an elevation of 2,350 feet, on the side of a 3,560 foot high mountain, about 7 miles south of the ILS approach course. Another pilot who was airborne in the area about 30 minutes after the accident pilot reported his missed approach stated that the cloud tops were at 2,400 feet.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE PILOT FAILED TO FOLLOW PUBLISHED MISSED APPROACH PROCEDURES. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE PILOT LACK OF RECENT EXPERIENCE IN TYPE OF OPERATION, INSTRUMENT GO-AROUND PROCEDURES, AND THE CLOUD COVERED MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.

Full Narrative

AFTER RECEIVING A LIMITED WEATHER BRIEFING THAT REPORTED AN OVERCAST SKY AT 1,500 FEET AGL AT HIS DESTINATION, THE PILOT TOOKOFF WITHOUT FILING A FLIGHT PLAN. UPON ARRIVING AT HIS DESTINATION, ABOVE THE WEATHER, THE PILOT REQUESTED AND RECEIVED AN ILS APPROACH TO THE AIRPORT. AFTER PASSING THE INITIAL APPROACH FIX AND DESCENDING TO 2,200 FEET MSL OUTSIDE THE OUTER MARKER, THE PILOT INFORMED THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER THAT HE WAS EXECUTING A MISSED APPROACH. THIS WAS THE LAST COMMUNICATION WITH THE AIRCRAFT. APPROXIMATELY ONE MINUTE AND THIRTY FIVE SECONDS LATER THE CONTROLLER HEARD AN ELT SIGNAL. THE AIRCRAFT'S WRECKAGE WAS FOUND AT 0700 HOURS PDT ON OCTOBER 7, 1988, BY A GROUND SEARCH PARTY. THE WRECKAGE WAS AT AN ELEVATION OF 2,350 FEET, ON THE SIDE OF A 3,560 FOOT HIGH MOUNTAIN, ABOUT 7 MILES SOUTH OF THE ILS APPROACH COURSE. ANOTHER PILOT WHO WAS AIRBORNE IN THE AREA ABOUT 30 MINUTES AFTER THE ACCIDENT PILOT REPORTED HIS MISSED APPROACH STATED THAT THE CLOUD TOPS WERE AT 2,400 FEET.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time18:08 PDT
Nearest AirportSalinas Mun. (13nm SSE)
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 182R
Tail NumberN1787R
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-540-J3C5D · Reciprocating · 235
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 70 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDark Night
Wind300° @ 7 kt
Visibility20 sm
CeilingOvercast 1800 ft
Temperature / Dew Point59 / 54
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time00:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data