Cessna T182 accident near Santa Barbara, CA

On September 27, 2020, a Cessna T182 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Santa Barbara, CA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.

Date

September 27, 2020

Place

Santa Barbara, CA

Aircraft

Cessna T182 · Airplane

Injuries

1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor

Damage

Destroyed

Position

34.388°N, 119.840°W

NTSB ID

20200928102050

Official records · WPR20LA319

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

Air traffic control records

• Air Traffic Control Attachment 2 A�� Audio Recording Of Sba Tower Local Control (Lc) Position: Audio recording (WAV), on ntsb.gov
• Air Traffic Control Attachment 3 A�� Audio Recording Of Sba Elcap (Ec) Departure Control Position: Audio recording (WAV), on ntsb.gov
• Air Traffic Control: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
• Air Traffic Control Attachment 1 A�� FAA Certified ATC Radar Data: Document (PPB), on ntsb.gov
• Air Traffic Control Attachment 4 A�� Aircraft Accident Package: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov

NTSB summary

On September 27, 2020, at 0703 Pacific daylight time (PDT), a Cessna T182T airplane, N157RC, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Santa Barbara, California. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot departed Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA), Santa Barbara, California, for a cross-country flight to Truckee-Tahoe Airport (TRK), Truckee, California. According to radar data and voice communications provided by the Federal Aviation Administration, about 0701, the pilot contacted SBA tower requesting departure instructions. The local controller issued the pilot the wind information and a takeoff clearance from runway 15L. The pilot acknowledged the instructions. When the airplane was approximately 0.5 nautical miles (nm) off the departure end of runway 15L, over the Pacific Ocean headed southbound, and at an altitude about 700 feet mean sea level (msl), the local controller instructed the pilot to contact departure control. The pilot acknowledged the instructions. About 0702, as the airplane was at an altitude of 1,000 ft msl, the pilot contacted departure control. The departure controller established radar contact and instructed the pilot to turn right heading 255° and climb to 8,000 ft. The pilot acknowledged the instruction, and radar data indicated the airplane was at an altitude of 1,300 ft msl when a turn to the right (west) was initiated, followed by a turn to the north and a rapid descent. About 0703, radar contact was lost, and the departure controller attem

Probable cause

The pilot’s loss of airplane control due to spatial disorientation after entering instrument meteorological conditions.

More accidents in CA

• Douglas MD-83, Feb 1, 2000
• Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-32, Aug 31, 1986
• British Aerospace BAE-146-200, Dec 8, 1987
• Beech C-99, Aug 24, 1984
• Sikorsky S-61N, Aug 6, 2008

Browse: California · Cessna aircraft

See it on the map

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