Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

N. Palm Springs, California 92258
Saturday, August 13, 1983 19:57 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PLT REPORTED HE ORIGINALLY INTENDED TO FLY APRX 19 MI TO THE PALM SPRINGS ARPT TO PERFORM NIGHT LANDINGS TO ACQUIRE NIGHT CURRENCY. HOWEVER, DUE TO A RADIO MALFUNCTION, HE WAS UNABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE CONTROL TOWER. THEREFORE, HE DECIDED TO RETURN TO HIS HOME IN YUCCA VALLEY. THE PLT ALSO REPORTED THAT HE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF CIRCLING NORTH OF PALM SPRINGS TO GAIN ALT WHEN THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH POWER LINES. IT COLLIDED WITH THE TOP WIRE OF AN INTRASTATE POWER TRANSMISSION LINE, APRX 100 FT AGL, THEN CRASHED. REPORTEDLY, THE PLT'S WIFE WAS WORKING IN A FAMILY OWNED RESTAURANT WITHIN 1/2 MI OF THE CRASH SITE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/13/1983
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1957
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City N. PALM SPRINGS
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 92258
Event Date Year 1983
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2005 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 155
Weather Observation Facility ID PSP
Elevation of weather observation facility 448
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 6
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Dusk
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 16000
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) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 40
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 360
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
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 --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2018
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 22370
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 N6379G
NTSB Number LAX83LA384
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 150K
Aircraft Series Identifier 150K
Aircraft Serial Number 15071879
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 25 1983 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 3
Airframe Hours 4214
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JOHN F. MC GUIRE
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1471 CHEROKEE TRAIL
Aircraft Owner City YUCCA VALLEY
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 92284
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 L22
Departure City YUCCA VALLEY
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1912
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code PSP
Destination City PALM SPRINGS
Destination State CA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
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 --