# Accident 20030130001109A: Beech D95A, Lancaster, CA, January 30, 2003 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: January 30, 2003, 19:37 local time - Place: Lancaster, CA - Airport: Gen Wm J Fox Airfield Airport - Damage: Destroyed - Phase of flight: Sfl Final Approach - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 33.7464° N, 118.2200° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7464&lon=-118.2200&mi=10 - Aircraft: N5639S, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5639S-2003-05-06) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Beech D95A (registry code 1153408, https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-d95a) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 series (registry code 41515, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH D95A - Reported engine: LYC IO360B1B - People aboard: 2 - Fatal injuries: 2 - Pilot flight hours: 7,000 total - NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX03FA078](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03FA078) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030130001109A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. (.19) ON JANUARY 30, 2003, AT 1937 PACIFIC STANDARD TIME, A BEECH D-95A, N5639S, COLLIDED WITH A HANGAR DURING AN ABORTED LANDING AT WILLIAM J. FOX FIELD (WJF), LANCASTER, CALIFORNIA. BARNES AVIATION WAS OPERATING THE RENTAL AIRPLANE UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CFR PART 91. THE CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR (CFI) PILOT AND THE PRIVATE PILOT UNDERGOING MULTIENGINE INSTRUCTION (PUI) SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES. THE AIRPLANE AND A STATIONARY, UNOCCUPIED AIRPLANE IN THE HANGAR WERE DESTROYED. THE LOCAL INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT DEPARTED WJF ABOUT 1830. NIGHT VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED. THE SAFETY BOARD INVESTIGATOR-IN-CHARGE (IIC) REVIEWED A COPY OF RECORDED RADIO COMMUNICATIONS AT THE WJF AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER (ATCT). THE FLIGHT CREW ENTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN AND COMPLETED ONE TOUCH-AND-GO LANDING. THE CREW REQUESTED AND WAS CLEARED FOR A SIMULATED SINGLE ENGINE FULL STOP LANDING ON RUNWAY 24. THE IIC INTERVIEWED THE LOCAL CONTROLLER IN THE ATCT. THE CONTROLLER THOUGHT THE TOUCH-AND-GO LANDING WAS UNREMARKABLE. ON THE FULL STOP APPROACH, HE THOUGHT THE AIRPLANE MADE A SHORT APPROACH. THE AIRPLANE LOOKED LIKE IT WAS LOW AND COULD POSSIBLY LAND SHORT OF THE RUNWAY; THE WINGS WERE ROCKING. AS THE AIRPLANE APPROACHED THE END OF THE RUNWAY IT BEGAN TO VEER TO THE LEFT (FROM THE FLIGHT CREW'S PERSPECTIVE). THE CONTROLLER OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE AS IT CONTINUED TO DRIFT LEFT AND IT APPEARED TO BE HEADING TOWARDS THE ATCT. THE AIRPLANE STAYED LOW TO THE GROUND, BUT THE CONTROLLER THOUGHT THE FLIGHT CREW WAS ATTEMPTING TO CLIMB. THE WING LIGHTS WERE CONTINUOUSLY ROCKING, AND THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO DRIFT LEFT. THE BANK ANGLE INCREASED SHARPLY TO THE LEFT, AND THEN HANGARS BLOCKED THE CONTROLLER'S VIEW. HE ESTIMATED THE AIRPLANE WAS 1,500 FEET FROM THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY. HE OBSERVED A FIREBALL AND ALERTED RESCUE CREWS. (-23) THE LOCAL INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT DEPARTED WJF APPROXIMATELY 1830PM LOCAL TIME. NIGHT VMC CONDITIONS PREVAILED, 5 KNOT WINDS, AND NO TRAFFIC. NO FLIGHT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED. THE FLIGHT CREW ENTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN AND COMPLETED ONE TOUCH AND GO LANDING. THE CREW REQUESTED AND WAS CLEARED FOR A SIMULATED SINGLE ENGINE FAIL, FULL STOP LANDING, ON RUNWAY 24 WINDS WERE CHECKED AND COMMUNICATED AGAIN TO PILOT (5KNOTS). THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER THOUGHT THE TOUCH AND GO UNREMARKABLE. ON THE FULL STOP APPROACH, HE THOUGHT THE AIRCRAFT MADE A SHORT APPROACH. THE AIRPLANE LOOKED LIKE IT WAS LOW AND COULD POSSIBLY LAND SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. IT THEN BEGAN TO VEER LEFT FROM THE FLIGHT CREWS PERSPECTIVE. THE CONTROLLER OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE AS IT CONTINUED TO DRIFT LEFT AND APPEARED TO BE HEADING TOWARDS THE ATCT. THE AIRPLANE STAYED LOW TO THE GROUND, BUT THE CONTROLLER THOUGHT THE FLIGHT CREW WAS ATTEMPTING TO CLIMB. THE WING LIGHTS WERE CONTINUOUSLY ROCKING, AND THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO DRIFT LEFT. THE BANK ANGLE INCREASED SHARPLY TO THE LEFT WHEN THE CONTROLLER LOST SIGHT OF THE AIRPLANE DUE TO OBSTRUCTING HANGARS. HE ESTIMATED THE AIRPLANE WAS 1,500 FEET FROM THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY WHEN HE OBSERVED A FIREBALL AND ALERTED RESCUE CREWS. ## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB LAX03FA078](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03FA078), Jan 31, 2003: Beech D95A (N5639S), Lancaster, CA, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: a loss of aircraft control due to the instructor pilot's incapacitation by seizure activity as a result of his undiagnosed cancer, and his use of a medication that can increase seizure risk. From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.