LAX84LA077

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna TU206F · Riverside, CA · November 27, 1983

Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
November 27, 1983, 14:05 local (22:05 UTC)
Place
Riverside, CA
Injuries
2 serious, 2 minor, 1 uninjured
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N7320ZCessna TU206FN20JKKepple Pitts Special S-1
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed
Report
Approved by Office Director
Case key
24097

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Midair collisionLanding - flare/touchdown
Procedures/directives - not followedPilot in commandFactor
Wind information - inadvertentOther maintenance personnelCause
Midair collisionLanding - flare/touchdown
Procedures/directives - not followedPilot of other aircraftFactor
Visual lookout - inadequatePilot in commandCause
Visual lookout - inadequatePilot of other aircraftCause

Analysis

The plt of a Cessna TU206F, N7320Z, stated that he advised other traffic of his position & intentions on the UNICOM freq as he entered a straight-in apch to rwy 24. At about the same time, the plt of a pitts special S-1, N20JK, had returned from a local flt & had remaind in the traffic pattern to practice landings. The plt of the Cessna said his acft was equipped with a spol modification & he flew his final apch at 55 to 60 KTS. He said he saw the pitts still on downwind when he was on final apch. The plt of the pitts said he flew a standard pattern & turned onto final apch about 3/4 mi out. He did not see the Cessna prior to the accident. The acft collided while they were in the landing flare/touchdown phase for rwy 24. The pitts converged on the Cessna from above. It hit the right wing of the Cessna as the Cessna was touching down. The airman's information manual recommends that acft enter traffic downwind, abeam the midpoint of the rwy.

The plt of a Cessna TU206F, N7320Z, stated that he advised other traffic of his position & intentions on the UNICOM freq as he entered a straight-in apch to rwy 24. At about the same time, the plt ofa pitts special S-1, N20JK, had returned from a local flt & had remaind in the traffic pattern to practive landings. The plt of the Cessna said his acft was equipped with a spol modification & he flew his final apch at 55 to 60 KTS. He said he saw the pitts still on downwind when he was on final apch. The plt of the pitts said he flew a standard pattern & turned onto final apch about 3/4 mi out. He did not see the Cessna prior to the accident. The acft collided while they were in the landind flare/touchdown phase for rwy 24. The pitts converged on the Cessna from above. It hit the right wing of the Cessna as the Cessna was touching down. The airman's information manual recommends that acft enter traffic on downwind, abeam the midpoint of the rwy.

Aircraft · 2

Registration
N7320Z
Reported as
Cessna TU206F
Category
Airplane
Serial number
U20606356
Airframe hours
315
Engine
Continental TSIO-520-M, 285 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Steven L & Stanley Ritland
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · November 9, 1983 · 15 hours before
Departed
L80 · Joshua Tree, CA
Flight plan
VFR
Airport
RIR · Fla-Bob, runway 24, 3,200 × 50 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Registration
N20JK
Reported as
Kepple Pitts Special S-1 (PITTS SPEC)
Category
Airplane, amateur-built
Serial number
751-H
Airframe hours
86
Engine
Lycoming O-290, 140 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Robert W. Loveless
Last inspection
Annual · March 7, 1983
Airport
RIR · Fla-Bob, runway 24, 3,200 × 50 ft, asphalt

Flight crew · 2

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot, aircraft N7320Z
Age
31
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Left
Flight hours
141 total · 98 in this make and model · 100 as pilot in command · 107 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Role
Pilot, aircraft N20JK
Age
54
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Front
Flight hours
278 total · 3 in this make and model · 218 as pilot in command · 10 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
280° at 5 knots
Visibility
65 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
RAL, 3 nm away

FAA reports on this event · 2

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.