Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Saugus, California 91380
Friday, July 4, 2003 10:15 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane collided with mountainous terrain and was destroyed in an ensuing ground fire. The pilot completed several touch-and-go practice takeoffs and landings, and departed for an airport about 20 nautical miles (nm) to the north. Radar data revealed that about 13 nm from the airport, a target made a figure eight maneuver, while gaining about 875 feet in altitude. After completing the maneuver, the target continued in a northerly direction, north of the airport, and then turned to the southwest. The last radar return, which was 0.51 nm southeast of the wreckage site, disclosed that the target flew in the southwesterly direction for about 4 nm. The airport of intended landing was 5.8 nm to the east of the accident site. Weather observation facilities within 20 miles of the accident site reported clear skies and moderate wind conditions. The leading edges of both wings were evenly and symmetrically crushed aft and up. The pilot's injuries precluded any detailed autopsy and limited toxicology testing. Investigators examined the airplane and engine and found no evidence of mechanical malfunction or failure.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

in-flight collision with terrain for undetermined reasons.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/4/2003
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1015
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Saugus
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 91380
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 343159N
Event Location Longitude 1182528W
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 --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 951 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID VNY
Elevation of weather observation facility 803
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 19
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 150
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.86
Density Altitude (feet) 930
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
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) 16882
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Jul 4 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1030
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Dec 28 2004 12:45PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office WP-VNY-FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N129JB
NTSB Number LAX03FA224
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 182Q
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 18267251
Certified Max Gross Weight 2950
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 1 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 2144
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name John L. Black
Aircraft Owner Street Address On File
Aircraft Owner City Tarzana
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 91356
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 VNY
Departure City Van Nuys
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 920
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code L70
Destination City Agua Dulce
Destination State CA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Oct 28 2004 1:55PM
User who most recently changed record RICJ
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --