Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Alpine, California 92001
Wednesday, March 17, 1982 18:21 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

AFTER BEING CLEARED FROM 8000 FEET DOWN TO 6000 FEET THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER REALIZED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN TROUBLE WHEN THE MODE C ALTITUDE INDICATED 3600 FEET. HE RECEIVED NO UNDERSTANDABLE RESPONSE FROM THE PILOT WHEN ASKED ABOUT ALTITUDE OR HEADING. RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST SHORTLY AFTERWARD. DURING THE PREFLIGHT WEATHER BRIEFING FROM THE ALBUQUERQUE FSS IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT THE PILOT LAND SHORT OF HIS DESTINATION TO OBTAIN A WEATHER UPDATE DUE TO FORECAST ICING AND TURBULENCE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS FOUND TO HAVE IMPACTED AT A NEAR VERTICAL ANGLE WITH NO FORWARD TRAVEL.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/17/1982
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1821
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City ALPINE
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 92001
Event Date Year 1982
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 Full
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 1800
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 260
Weather Observation Facility ID NKX
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 20
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Dusk
Lowest Ceiling Height 600
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 2
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 220
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Moderate
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 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 592
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 Oct 31 2002 4:04PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\ZUZL
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N231AM
NTSB Number LAX82FA110
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 Ground
Aircraft Explosion Ground
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name MOONEY
Aircraft Model M20K
Aircraft Series Identifier M20K
Aircraft Serial Number 25-0080
Certified Max Gross Weight 2900
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DONALD G. & PATRICIA J. FARHAT
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3604 ZERMATT
Aircraft Owner City ESCONDIDO
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 92025
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name DONALD G. & PATRICIA J. FARHAT
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 3604 ZERMATT
Operator City ESCONDIDO
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 92025
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code ABQ
Departure City ALBUQUERQUE
Departure State NM
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code MYF
Destination City SAN DIEGO
Destination State CA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
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 --