Cessna 182L N42450

Summary

On 17 January 1988 at about 08:52 local time, a Cessna 182L registered N42450, operated by TIN Star Flying Association, was involved in an accident near Newhall, 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

17 January 1988 at 08:52

Classification

Accident

Location

Newhall, California, United States

Coordinates

34.3594, -118.4702

Aircraft

Cessna 182L

Registration

N42450

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

TIN Star Flying Association

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Bullhead City → La Verne

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

LAX88FA088

4 people died.

PILOTS DECISION TO CONTINUE VFR FLIGHT AFTER ENCOUNTERING INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT OBTAINED A PREFLIGHT WEATHER BRIEFING WHICH PRESENTED A WEATHER PICTURE OF MID LEVEL CLOUDS, TURBULENCE AND GOOD VISIBILITIES. FLIGHT PRECAUTIONS WERE NOTED FOR COASTAL MOUNTAIN OBSCUREMENT DUE TO LOW CLOUDS. RAIN SHOWERS AND LOW CEILINGS WERE FORCASTED FOR THE PERIOD ABOUT 8 HOURS AFTER ETA OF THE FLIGHT. THE ACCIDENT SITE IS AT THE SOUTHWESTERN END OF A SMALL VALLEY WHERE IT NARROWS TO A CONSTRICTED PASS WHICH IS SURROUNDED BY HIGH COASTAL HILLS. SEVERAL WITNESSES REPORTED THAT HEAVY RAIN, LOW CLOUDS AND VISIBILITIES OF ONE HALF MILE IN FOG WERE PRESENT IN THE VALLEY. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SEEN TO FLY DOWN THE VALLEY AT ABOUT 500 FEET AGL OVER A HIGHWAY. AS THE AIRCRAFT APPROACHED AN OIL REFINERY AT THE SOUTHWESTERN END, IT WAS SEEN TO SUDDENLY TURN TO THE RIGHT JUST BEFORE THE REFINERY FLAME STACK AND COLLIDE WITH THE TOP OF A MOUNTAIN RIDGE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.