Cessna 210K N8276M

Summary

On 12 June 1997 at about 19:12 local time, a Cessna 210K registered N8276M was involved in an accident near Topanga, California, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

12 June 1997 at 19:12

Classification

Accident

Location

Topanga, California, United States

Coordinates

34.1003, -118.6003

Aircraft

Cessna 210K

Registration

N8276M

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Visalia → Santa Monica

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX97FA210

1 person died.

The pilot's failure to maintain proper VFR altitude over mountainous terrain obscured by clouds, and his intentional descent into instrument meteorological weather conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The noninstrument-rated pilot was familiar with the Los Angeles basin area. The weather was overcast with tops reported in excess of 5,600 feet. The pilot was receiving radar flight following service as he descended in a southerly direction toward his destination, and he informed the controller that he was 'looking for a hole.' The pilot then requested a special VFR clearance through the clouds; a request which was denied by the controller. Upon reaching 6,000 feet, he headed toward the ocean, informed the controller that he observed a 'little hole,' and requested that the controller monitor his progress 'in case I do have to go in.' The controller advised the pilot to maintain VFR. The pilot continued descending and reported that it was hazy, he was still VFR, and he thought he could make it. At 1211:47, the controller informed the pilot that he would be losing radar coverage because the airplane was descending below the mountain range. The pilot acknowledged the transmission at 1211:55. Radar data indicated at the time the airplane was descending through about 2,700 feet; its ground speed was 163 knots; and it was tracking 103 degrees toward the airport. Thirteen seconds later radar contact was lost. The airplane impacted the mountainside at 2440 feet, on a 101-degree bearing and 10 miles from Santa Monica, in a nearly level, 20-degree banked turn. A patrolling sheriff's officer indicated that at the time clouds obscured the mountainside.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.