Cessna 182P accident near Pleasanton, CA

On May 28, 2002, a Cessna 182P (airplane) was involved in an accident near Pleasanton, CA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.

Date

May 28, 2002

Place

Pleasanton, CA

Aircraft

Cessna 182P · Airplane

Injuries

1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor

Damage

Destroyed

Position

37.635°N, 121.931°W

NTSB ID

20020605X00810

Official records · LAX02FA179

• Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation

Air traffic control records

• Transcript of Radio Communications: Transcript (PDF), on ntsb.gov

NTSB summary

HISTORY OF FLIGHT On May 27, 2002, approximately 2230 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 182P single-engine airplane, N52404, was destroyed when it impacted mountainous terrain while maneuvering near Pleasanton, California. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. The non-instrument rated private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, sustained fatal injuries. Night instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal cross-country flight. The flight originated at the Nevada Country Air Park Airport, Grass Valley, California, at 2125, and was destined for the San Carlos Airport, San Carlos, California. It was reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge (NTSB IIC) by a friend of the pilot, whom the pilot had flown from San Carlos to Grass Valley earlier in the evening, that prior to departing on the return trip to San Carlos the pilot added 15 gallons of fuel to both the left and right wing tanks of the airplane. The friend of the pilot also reported that during the flight to Grass Valley, the pilot could hear air traffic control when they transmitted to him, but observed that at times air traffic control could not hear the pilot when he attempted to reply. The pilot's friend also stated that prior to his departure from Grass Valley the pilot did not receive a weather briefing. According to the pilot's brother, who was interviewed by the NTSB IIC, the pilot would frequently fly down the eastern side of the Diablo Mountain range until he was clear of the restricted airspace,"

Probable cause

The pilot's inadvertent flight into adverse weather and his failure to maintain clearance. Contributing factors included the pilot's inadequate preflight planning, the low ceilings, and the dark night conditions.

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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.