Cessna 182H N8397S

Summary

On 1 October 1993 at about 17:15 local time, a Cessna 182H registered N8397S, operated by Cecil Drew, was involved in an accident near Clear Lake Res, California, United States. 2 people were on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

1 October 1993 at 17:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Clear Lake Res, California, United States

Coordinates

41.7999, -121.4608

Aircraft

Cessna 182H

Registration

N8397S

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Cecil Drew

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Klamath Falls → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX94LA003

1 person died.

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE, WHILE PERFORMING A LOW-ALTITUDE MANEUVER (TURN) OVER WATER. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: SUN GLARE, HAZE, GLASSY CONDITION OF THE WATER, AND THE LACK OF VISUAL CUES (VISUAL PERCEPTION) FOR THE PILOT TO JUDGE ALTITUDE AND KEEP REFERENCE TO THE HORIZON.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT (PIC) REPORTED THAT HE & ANOTHER PILOT (PASSENGER) FLEW TO A FRESH WATER RESERVOIR. HE SAID THAT EN ROUTE, THEY 'TOOK TURNS DOING WING OVERS AND TIGHT TURNS.' HE SAID THEY DECIDED TO MAKE A 360 DEGREE TURN OVER THE WATER, THEN FLY BACK TO THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT. THE PIC INDICATED THAT WHILE TURNING OVER GLASSY WATER, THE WATER, SUN, HAZE & COLOR OF THE BACKGROUND TERRAIN RESULTED IN AN OPTICAL ILLUSION. HE SAID HE LOST REFERENCE TO THE HORIZON, AND THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE WATER ABOUT HALF WAY THROUGH THE TURN. THE PILOT SURVIVED THE ACCIDENT. HE EGRESSED FROM THE AIRPLANE AS IT WAS SINKING, BUT WAS UNABLE TO RESCUE THE OTHER OCCUPANT. NO MECHANICAL PROBLEM WITH THE AIRPLANE WAS REPORTED.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.