Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Santa Paula, California 93060
Thursday, August 15, 1985 12:45 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

ON A LOCAL FLT TO VIEW CAMPING AND HIKING FACILITIES IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, THE ACFT ENTERED A BOX CANYON WITH A MODERATELY RISING FLOOR AND STEEP SIDES REPORTED BY THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AT ABOUT ONE-QUARTER OF A MILE WIDE. DURINGAN ATTEMPTED COURSE REVERSAL. THE ACFT STALLED AND IMPACTED NOSE DOWN IN TALL TREES ON THE FLOOR OF THE CANYON. SHERIFF DEPT SEARCH AND RESCUE PERSONNEL REPORTED THAT ONLY THE TREES IMMEDIATELY AROUND THE ACFT WERE DISTURBED. ALTHOUGH NONE OF THE FOUR OCCUPANTS REPORTED A CLEAR MEMORY OF THE ACCIDENT SEQUENCE, ONE PASSENGER DID SAY THAT THE 'ENGINE DIDN'T SOUND RIGHT' JUST BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. FUNCTIONAL TESTING OF THE ACFT REVEALED NO MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/15/1985
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1245
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City SANTA PAULA
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 93060
Event Date Year 1985
Event Date Month 8
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 Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1246 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 190
Weather Observation Facility ID OXR
Elevation of weather observation facility 43
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 18
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 16
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 1000
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 4
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1557
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 15 1985 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1710
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 28932
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N79504
NTSB Number LAX85LA349
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 172K
Aircraft Series Identifier 172K
Aircraft Serial Number 17258136
Certified Max Gross Weight 2150
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 May 1 1985 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 222
Airframe Hours 1827
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name STEVEN C. VIZZO
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3185 PORTER LANE
Aircraft Owner City VENTURA
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 93003
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name VENCO PACIFIC AVIATION
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 1601 WEST 5TH STREET
Operator City OXNARD
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 93030
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 Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code OXR
Departure City OXNARD
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1115
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
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 --