Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Half Moon Bay, California 94049
Wednesday, March 25, 1987 16:49 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE FLYING NORTHWEST OVER WATER ALONG THE PACIFIC COAST ON AN IFR CLNC, THE PLT RPRTD TO THE SECTOR CONTROLLER (CTLR) 'WE'VE GOT A PROBLEM.' THE CTLR INQUIRED ABOUT THE NATURE OF THE PROBLEM. THE PLT THEN STATED, 'GOING DOWN FAST, OUT OF CONTROL.' THE CTLR OBSERVED THAT THE ACFT WAS LOSING ALT RAPIDLY & INSTRUCTED THE PLT TO TURN RIGHT TO 090 DEG FOR VECTORS TOWARD THE SHORELINE; THE PLT RESPONDED, 'WE'RE GOING IN.' NO FURTHER TRANSMISSIONS WERE RECEIVED FROM THE PLT. THE CTLR NOTED THE ACFT'S TRANSPONDER CODE WENT INTO A COAST MODE & THE PRIMARY TARGET WENT INTO A SLOW LEFT TURN. RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST WITH THE ACFT AFTER IT HAD TURNED TO A SOUTHWESTERLY HEADING. COAST GUARD HELICOPTERS ARRIVED OVER THE AREA OF THE ACDNT AT ABOUT 1700 PST. THE HELICOPTER AIRCREWS FOUND AN OIL SLICK, A LNDG GEAR & OTHER REMNANTS OF THE ACFT; HOWEVER, THE MAJOR PORTION OF THE ACFT SANK & WAS NOT RECOVERED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/25/1987
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1649
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City HALF MOON BAY
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 94049
Event Date Year 1987
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 13
Degrees magnetic from airport 315
Airport Elevation 67
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1650 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID SFO
Elevation of weather observation facility 11
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 15
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 20000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Thin Broken
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 13
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
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 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2479
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 25 1987 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1730
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 36776
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 1:58PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7603Q
NTSB Number LAX87FA156
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Unknown
Aircraft Explosion Unknown
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 310Q
Aircraft Series Identifier 310Q
Aircraft Serial Number 310Q0538
Certified Max Gross Weight 5200
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 6
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DEAN S. POCOCK
Aircraft Owner Street Address 11118 FRANKLIN AVE.
Aircraft Owner City CULVER CITY
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 90230
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
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 MRY
Departure City MONTEREY
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1552
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code STS
Destination City SANTA ROSA
Destination State CA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
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 --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --