Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Near Bakersfiel, California 93303
Wednesday, January 6, 1982 10:45 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT WAS ENROUTE TO LAS VEGAS, NEVADA FOR A BANNER TOWING OPERATION. AS HE PROCEEDED EASTBOUND ALONG HIGHWAY 58, HE ENCOUNTERED FOG THAT WAS FORMING IN THE TEHACHAPI FOOTHILLS. HE INITIATED A 180 DEGREE TURN TO GO BACK, BUT INADVERTENTLY ENTERED IFR CONDITIONS. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE BECAME SPATIALLY DISORIENTED AND DESCENDED AS SLOWLY AS HE COULD, BUT THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE SIDE OF A HILL.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/6/1982
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1045
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City NEAR BAKERSFIEL
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 93303
Event Date Year 1982
Event Date Month 1
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 Unknown
Time of the weather observation 1100
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 Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 100
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
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) 40
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
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 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 1
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 605
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
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 N59737
NTSB Number LAX82DVA10
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 BOEING
Aircraft Model A75
Aircraft Series Identifier A75
Aircraft Serial Number 75-4828
Certified Max Gross Weight 3200
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class Unknown
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours 2100
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WILLIAM E. SMITH
Aircraft Owner Street Address 145 BELLA VISTA
Aircraft Owner City BELVEDERE
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 94920
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name WILLIAM E. SMITH
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 145 BELLA VISTA
Operator City BELVEDERE
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 94920
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City DELANO
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1000
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City LAS VEGAS
Destination State NV
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 18 2002 4:49PM
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 --