NTSB AVIATION ACCIDENT/INCIDENT DATABASE REPORT
LAX96FA094.html
1996, 2f, within one mile of another airport. This accident was preventable:
THE PILOT'S CONTINUED FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
WHICH EVENTUALLY LED TO A LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO SPATIAL
DISORIENTATION. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE
PREFLIGHT PLANNING, HIS IMPAIRMENT DUE TO MEDICATION, THE FOGGY WEATHER
CONDITIONS BELOW WEATHER MINIMUMS, AND THE DARK NIGHT.
General Information
Data Source: NTSB AVIATION ACCIDENT/INCIDENT DATABASE
Report Number: LAX96FA094
Local Date: 01/12/1996
Local Time: 338 PST
State: CA
City: SUISUN CITY
Airport Name: TRAVIS AFB
Airport Id: SUU
Event Type: ACCIDENT
Injury Severity: FATAL
Report Status: FINAL
Mid Air Collision: NO
Operations Information
Category of Operation: GENERAL AVIATION
Aircraft Type: AIRPLANE
Aircraft Damage: DESTROYED
Phase of Flight: 560 APPROACH
Aircraft Make/Model: CESSNA CE-150-L
Operator Doing Business As:
Operator Name: BUCHANAN FLYING CLUB
Operator Code:
Operator:
Owner Name: CECIL BUCKLEY
Narrative
THE NONINSTRUMENT-RATED PILOT HAD DEPARTED NAPA ABOUT 0200 FOR A
RETURN FLIGHT TO CONCORD (BUCHANAN FIELD). AT 0235 THE PILOT CONTACTED
TRAVIS AFB APPROACH CONTROL STATING HE WAS UNABLE TO LAND AT BUCHANAN
FIELD DUE TO WEATHER, AND REQUESTED RADAR VECTORS TO THE RIO VISTA
AIRPORT 12 MILES EAST OF TRAVIS AFB. THE PILOT WAS VECTORED TO RIO
VISTA BUT WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE AIRPORT. HE WAS INFORMED THAT MOST OF
THE AIRPORTS IN THE AREA WERE FOGGED IN. AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL THEN
VECTORED THE PILOT TO SACRAMENTO TO INTERCEPT A LOCALIZER FINAL
APPROACH COURSE. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO TRACK THE LOCALIZER AND
RECEIVED CORRECTIVE VECTORS ON FINAL. THE PILOT MISSED THE AIRPORT
WHERE THE VISIBILITY WAS BELOW MINIMUMS DUE TO THE FOG; HOWEVER, THE
PILOT REPORTED SEEING LIGHTS WHEN FLYING OVER THE AIRPORT. ATC THEN
COORDINATED A RADAR APPROACH TO TRAVIS AFB WHICH WAS ALSO BE LOW
MINIMUMS DUE TO FOG. THE PILOT ACCEPTED A VECTOR TO FINAL APPROACH
COURSE FOR THE RADAR GUIDED INSTRUMENT APPROACH PROCEDURE. HE FOLLOWED
THE RADAR CONTROLLER'S GUIDANCE AND REPORTED SEEING THE RUNWAY LIGHTS,
BUT WAS UNABLE TO LAND ON THE 10,995-FOOT-LONG RUNWAY. THE PILOT
TURNED THE AIRPLANE TO THE RIGHT WHILE TRYING TO MAINTAIN VISUAL CONTACT
WITH THE RUNWAY LIGHTS. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH LEVEL TERRAIN
WHILE TURNING BACK TOWARDS THE AIRPORT ABOUT 1/2 MILE FROM THE RUNWAY.
THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED 25 MINUTES AFTER THE PILOT REPORTED TO AIR
TRAFFIC CONTROL HE HAD ONLY 15 MINUTES OF FUEL LEFT. LESS THAN 3
GALLONS OF FUEL WERE FOUND ON THE AIRPLANE AT THE ACCIDENT SITE. THE
PILOT TESTED POSITIVE FOR AMPHETAMINE, CARBAMAZEPINE (ANTISEIZURE
MEDICATION), AND FLUOXETINE (PROZAC - AN ANTIDEPRESSANT) AT VERY HIGH
LEVELS.
Sequence of Events
Occurrence #: 1 250 LOSS OF CONTROL - IN FLIGHT
Phase of Operation: 560 APPROACH
Findings
Subject - Modifier - Personnel Cause/Factor
1b. 24001(S) - 3115(M) - 4000(P) Factor
PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION - INADEQUATE - PILOT IN COMMAND
2a. 20000(S) - 2206(M) Factor
WEATHER CONDITION - FOG
2b. 24023(S) - 3102(M) - 4000(P) Cause
FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER - CONTINUED - PILOT IN COMMAND
2dir. 33140(S) - 5000(P) Factor
IMPAIRMENT (DRUGS) - PILOT IN COMMAND
3dir. 33141(S) - 5000(P)
USE OF UNAPPROVED MEDICATION/DRUG - PILOT IN COMMAND
4a. 20100(S) - 2305(M) Factor
LIGHT CONDITION - DARK NIGHT
5a. 20000(S) - 2201(M) Factor
WEATHER CONDITION - BELOW APPROACH/LANDING MINIMUMS
5b. 24566(S) - 3140(M) - 4000(P) Cause
AIRCRAFT CONTROL - UNCONTROLLED - PILOT IN COMMAND
5dir. 33400(S) - 5000(P) Cause
SPATIAL DISORIENTATION - PILOT IN COMMAND
Occurrence #: 2 230 IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH TERRAIN/WATER
Phase of Operation: 553 DESCENT - UNCONTROLLED
Findings
Subject - Modifier - Personnel Cause/Factor
Probable Cause
THE PILOT'S CONTINUED FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
WHICH EVENTUALLY LED TO A LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO SPATIAL
DISORIENTATION. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE
PREFLIGHT PLANNING, HIS IMPAIRMENT DUE TO MEDICATION, THE FOGGY WEATHER
CONDITIONS BELOW WEATHER MINIMUMS, AND THE DARK NIGHT.
Aircraft Information
Number of Seats: 2
Aircraft Use: PERSONAL
Type of Operation: 14 CFR 91
Domestic/International:
Passenger/Cargo:
Registration Number: 18106
Air Carrier Operating Certificates:
Aircraft Fire: NONE
Injuries
Fatal Serious Minor None
Crew 1 0 0 0
Pass 1 0 0 0
Other 0 0 0 0
Invlvd 2 0 0 0
Landing Gear: TRICYCLE-FIXED
Certificated Maximum Gross Weight: 1600
Engine Make: Continental
Engine Model: O-200A
Number of Engines: 1
Engine Type: RECIPROCATING-CARBURETOR
Environment/Location Information
Basic Weather Conditions: INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC)
Wind Direction (deg): 10
Wind Speed (knots): 4
Visibility (sm): 0
Visibility RVR (ft): 0
Visibility RVV (sm): 0
Cloud Height Above Ground Level (ft): 0
Visibility Restrictions: FOG (F)
Precipitation Type: NONE
Light Condition: NIGHT (DARK)
Departure Airport Id: APC
Departure City: NAPA
Departure State: CA
Destination Airport Id: CCR
Destination City: CONCORD
Destination State: CA
Flight Plan Filed: NONE
ATC Clearance: IFR
VFR Approach/Landing: NONE
Event Location: OFF AIRPORT/AIRSTRIP
Pilot-in-Command
Certificates: PRIVATE
Ratings:
Plane: SINGLE ENGINE LAND
Non-Plane: NONE
Instrument: NONE
Had Current BFR: YES
Months Since Last BFR: 4
Medical Certificate: CLASS 3
Medical Certificate Validity: VALID MEDICAL-NO WAIVERS/LIMITATIONS
Flight Time (Hours)
Total : 175 Last 24 Hrs : 2
Make/Model : 155 Last 30 Days: 9
Instrument : 8 Last 90 Days: 57
Multi-Engine: 0 Rotorcraft : 0