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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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January 21, 1984 · Cessna 182Q · N96956

Soledad, CA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
January 21, 1984
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Soledad, CA
Aircraft
Cessna 182Q
Tail Number
N96956
Operator
Phillip J Mcmansmy
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX84FA152

THE ACFT CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF A HILL AT ABOUT 1500 FT MSL IN A 50 DEGREE NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. THE PLT HAD ENCOUNTEREDWEATHER ON A NIGHT VFR FLT. HE WAS ATTEMPTED TO RETURN THE ACFT FOR A SCHEDULED CLUB FLT THE NEXT MORNING. HE HAD PREVIOUSLY PLANNED AN EARLY AM DEPARTURE BUT WAS DOUBTFUL OF THE MORNING WEATHER AND HE MADE THE NIGHT DEPARTURE EVEN THOUGH VFR FLT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED. HIS ROUTE OF FLT WAS BASICALLY NORTH AND THE CRASH OCCURRED ON A SOUTHERLY HEADING. WITNESSES IN THE AREA HEARD AN ACFT AROUND MIDNIGHT. IT WAS RAINY AND FOGGY AT THE TIME. THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS ABOUT 40 MILES SE OF DEPARTURE POINT. DESTINATION WAS ABOUT 60 MILES NORTH.

Full Narrative

THE ACFT CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF A HILL AT ABOUT 1500 FT MSL IN A 50 DEGREE NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. THE PLT HAD ENCOUNTEREDWEATHER ON A NIGHT VFR FLT. HE WAS ATTEMPTED TO RETURN THE ACFT FOR A SCHEDULED CLUB FLT THE NEXT MORNING. HE HAD PREVIOUSLY PLANNED AN EARLY AM DEPARTURE BUT WAS DOUBTFUL OF THE MORNING WEATHER AND HE MADE THE NIGHT DEPARTURE EVEN THOUGH VFR FLT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED. HIS ROUTE OF FLT WAS BASICALLY NORTH AND THE CRASH OCCURRED ON A SOUTHERLY HEADING. WITNESSES IN THE AREA HEARD AN ACFT AROUND MIDNIGHT. IT WAS RAINY AND FOGGY AT THE TIME. THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS ABOUT 40 MILES SE OF DEPARTURE POINT. DESTINATION WAS ABOUT 60 MILES NORTH.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time00:07 PST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 182Q
Tail NumberN96956
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorPhillip J Mcmansmy
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · O-470-U · Reciprocating · 230
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 52 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDark Night
Wind90° @ 7 kt
Visibility5 sm
CeilingOvercast 1500 ft
Temperature / Dew Point50 / 50
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time08:56
Weather SourceWFAC

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Appendix: Source Data