Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Malibu, California 90268
Saturday, March 10, 1990 22:55 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT AND HIS THREE PASSENGERS TOOK OFF ON A FLIGHT UNDER INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULES AND IN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS TO ANOTHER AIRPORT FOR DINNER. AFTER DINNER THE PILOT AND HIS PASSENGERS TOOK OFF ON A NIGHT FLIGHT, UNDER VISUAL FLIGHT RULES, TO RETURN TO THEIR HOME AIRPORT. THE AIRCRAFT INITIALLY CLIMBED TO 2700 FEET MSL THEN BEGAN A SLOW ENROUTE DESCENT. RADAR CONTACT WITH THE AIRCRAFT WAS LOST AS IT DESCENDED THROUGH 1800 FEET MSL WHILE TRACKING OVER THE COAST ON AN EASTERLY HEADING. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED A MOUNTAIN, NORTH OF THE COAST LINE, AT AN ELEVATION OF 1600 FEET, WHILE IN LEVEL FLIGHT AND WHILE ON A WESTERLY HEADING.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S DECISION TO TURN INTO AN AREA OF KNOWN HIGH TERRAIN AFTER INADVERTENTLY ENCOUNTERING INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/10/1990
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 2255
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City MALIBU
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 90268
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Witness
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Thin Overcast
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Obscured
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 4
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 4
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1569
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 10 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2345
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 42840
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2951S
NTSB Number LAX90FA113
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA28-161
Aircraft Series Identifier PA28-161
Aircraft Serial Number 287916579
Certified Max Gross Weight 2325
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name KAZUHIKO NAKAMURA
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 1161 REPUBLIC AVE
Operator City NAPA
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 94559
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code OXR
Departure City OXNARD
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 2234
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SMO
Destination City SANTA MONICA
Destination State CA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --