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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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December 12, 1982 · Cessna 206 · N4687F

Merced, CA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
December 12, 1982
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury)
Location
Merced, CA
Aircraft
Cessna 206
Tail Number
N4687F
Operator
Heisey Walter Floyd
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
LAX83LA058

THE TRANSCRIPT REVEALED THAT THE PLT WAS CLEARED FOR AN ILS RWY 30 APCH APPROXIMATELY 2 MI FROM THE OUTER MARKER. THE WX GIVEN TO THE PLT AT THAT TIME WAS INDEFINITE CEILING ZERO, SKY OBSCURED & VISIBILITY ZERO WITH FOG. THE PLT STATED AN INSTRUMENT APCH WAS PLANNED BUT A CLEAR AREA WAS OBSERVED SOUTH OF THE ARPT. THE CLEAR AREA WAS ENTERED & AN ATTEMPT MADE TO FLY TO THE ARPT BENEATH THE FOG. THE ACFT STRUCK A UTILITY POLE WEST OF THE RWY 30 LOCALIZER COURSE, CIRCLED LEFT & CRASHED. THE ACFT'S GLIDE SLOPE RECEIVER SENSITIVITY WAS FOUND TO BE BELOW THE MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATIONS, WHICH WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN A GLIDE SLOPE "OFF" INDICATION IN THE COCKPIT.

Full Narrative

THE TRANSCRIPT REVEALED THAT THE PLT WAS CLEARED FOR AN ILS RWY 30 APCH APPROXIMATELY 2 MI FROM THE OUTER MARKER. THE WX GIVEN TO THE PLT AT THAT TIME WAS INDEFINITE CEILING ZERO, SKY OBSCURED & VISIBILITY ZERO WITH FOG. THE PLT STATED AN INSTRUMENT APCH WAS PLANNED BUT A CLEAR AREA WAS OBSERVED SOUTH OF THE ARPT. THE CLEAR AREA WAS ENTERED & AN ATTEMPT MADE TO FLY TO THE ARPT BENEATH THE FOG. THE ACFT STRUCK A UTILITY POLE WEST OF THE RWY 30 LOCALIZER COURSE, CIRCLED LEFT & CRASHED. THE ACFT'S GLIDE SLOPE RECEIVER SENSITIVITY WAS FOUND TO BE BELOW THE MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATIONS, WHICH WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN A GLIDE SLOPE "OFF" INDICATION IN THE COCKPIT.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time08:38 PST
Nearest AirportMerced Municipal (0nm N)
Runway30
Runway Length5903 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 206
Tail NumberN4687F
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorHeisey Walter Floyd
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · IO-520-A · Reciprocating · 285
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 63 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point10 C / 0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time08:53

Appendix: Source Data