NTSB LAX90LA296 — 1990-08-18 · TEMECULA, California, United States

Current FAA registration · N2355X

Make / Model: CESSNA 182H
Year of manufacture: 1965 · 25 years old at event
Engine: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES (230 hp)
Seats / Engines: 4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 19650419
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S A21E30

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N2355X Cessna 182H Minor

Probable cause & findings

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT THAT RESULTED IN HIS CONTINUING FLIGHT WITH AN INOPERATIVE ALTERNATOR.

Factual narrative

WHILE THE PILOT WAS ENROUTE TO HIS DESTINATION AIRPORT AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS ADVISED HIM THAT THEY WERE NOT RECEIVING HIS TRANSPONDER SIGNAL. AFTER LANDING HE AND THREE PASSENGERS TOOK OFF FOR A NIGHT SIGHTSEEING FLIGHT AFTER THE RUNWAY LIGHTING HAD TRANSFERRED FROM CONTINOUS 'ON' TO PILOT CONTROL. APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES AFTER TAKE OFF THE AIRCRAFT RETURNED FOR LANDING. WHEN THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO TURN 'ON' THE RUNWAY LIGHTS BY KEYING HIS RADIO TRANSMITTER THE AIRCRAFT'S CABIN LIGHTS DIMMED AND THE RUNWAY LIGHTING FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND ON THE UNLIT AIRPORT. DURING THE GROUND ROLL THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED ONE OF THE PRECISION APPROACH PATH INDICATORS AND A FENCE. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1990_LAX90LA296.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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