# NTSB LAX84FA178: Beech A-36, N67426, Coyote, CA, February 13, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 12, 1984, 19:45 local (Feb 13, 1984, 03:45 UTC)
- Place: Coyote, CA
- Coordinates: 37.220817, -121.739707 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2208&lon=-121.7397&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23937
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX84FA178
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23937/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX84FA178

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather evaluation - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - vfr flight into imc - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - preflight briefing service - not used, pilot in command (cause)
  - in-flight briefing service - not used, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction
  - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT CRASHED IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN DURING A NIGHT X-COUNTRY IN MARGINAL WEATHER. THE PLT MADE AN APPROACH TO SAN JOSE, CANCELLED HIS IFR FLT PLAN AND ADVISED HE WAS PROCEEDING TO HOLLISTER. A COMMON PRACTICE IN THE AREA IS TO FLY THE VALLEY, FOLLOWING THE HIGHWAY DURING PERIODS OF LOW CEILINGS, WHEN THE WEATHER IS BASICALLY VFR BETWEEN SAN JOSEAND HOLLISTER. THE PLT HAD BEEN ADVISED BY SAN JOSE TOWER THAT REID-HILLVIEW CONTROL ZONE WAS BELOW BASIC VFR MINIMUMS. INVESTIGATION DID NOT REVEAL ANY EVIDENCE OF PREIMPACT ACFT FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N67426 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BEECH A-36
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: E1663
- Airframe hours: 1840
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-BB 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: San Benito Air Service
- Registered owner: John R. Winn
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: 100 hour, November 30, 1983, 53 hours before
- Departed: MOD, MODESTO, CA
- Destination: 307, HOLLISTER, CA
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 3,250 total, 605 in this make and model, 3,000 as pilot in command, 210 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Night/dark
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SJC, 13 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19840212031739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840212031739A), Feb 12, 1984: Beech A36, Coyote, CA, Destroyed. Pilot had made instrument approach and was proceeding VFR to destination airport when aircraft crashed.

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.

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