Burbank Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Burbank, California 91502
Saturday, May 8, 1982 6:16 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED INTO IFR CONDITIONS WITH A NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT IN THE LEFT FRONT SEAT AND HIS WIFE, AN INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT, IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT. AFTER THE PILOT REPORTED CLIMBING THROUGH 2800 FT MSL, THE RADAR CONTROLLER OBSERVED THAT THE AIRCRAFT DEVIATED FROM THE COURSE AND BEGAN TO LOSE ALTITUDE. HE ATTEMPTED TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE PILOT, BUT WAS UNABLE. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT MANEUVER IN AND OUT OF THE OVERCAST. TWO WITNESSES WATCHED IT CHANGE COURSE TO THE RIGHT FROM SOUTHEAST TO NORTHWEST, PULL UP INTO THE OVERCAST, THEN DIVE OUT OF THE CLOUDS IN A NEAR VERTICAL ATTITUDE AND CRASH. DURING AN EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE, NO PREIMPACT, MECHANICAL FAILURES WERE FOUND. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESIGNED TO BE FLOWN IN INSTRUMENT CONDITIONS FROM ONLY THE LEFT FRONT SEAT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/8/1982
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 616
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City BURBANK
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 91502
Event Date Year 1982
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport BURBANK
Event Location Nearest Airport ID BUR
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 620
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 325
Weather Observation Facility ID BUR
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 3
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 1
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 58
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 90
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
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 Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 1
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 3
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 3151
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 N8007J
NTSB Number LAX82FA161
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion Ground
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name SMITH AEROSTAR
Aircraft Model 600
Aircraft Series Identifier 600
Aircraft Serial Number 60-0493-160
Certified Max Gross Weight 5500
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 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 29
Airframe Hours 709
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JUDITH GILL WAGNER
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2253 TORRANCE BLVD.
Aircraft Owner City TORRANCE
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 90501
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name JUDITH GILL WAGNER
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 2253 TORRANCE BLVD.
Operator City TORRANCE
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 90501
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 Unknown
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code BUR
Departure City BURBANK
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 613
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City FARMINGTON
Destination State NV
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 18 2002 4:50PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 15
Runway Length 6920
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --