# NTSB LAX85FA214: Beech A45, N7GN, Fallbrook, CA, April 22, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 21, 1985, 18:15 local (Apr 22, 1985, 02:15 UTC)
- Place: Fallbrook, CA
- Coordinates: 33.389892, -117.209747 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3899&lon=-117.2097&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): 24493
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX85FA214
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24493/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX85FA214

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - impairment(alcohol), pilot in command (cause)
  - weather evaluation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction
  - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PLT WAS FLYING TO HIS HOME ARPT UNDER VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR) FROM HIS PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT WHEN HE ENCOUNTERED LOW CEILINGS & VISIBILITIES. HE CONTD AT LOW ALT ALONG AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY TOWARD HIS ORIGINAL DESTINATION. A WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE PLT HAD TO CLIMB TO CLEAR AN OVERPASS. THE ACFT THEN ENTERED A LEFT TURN. DURING THE TURN, ITS LEFT WING HIT AN ELECTRICAL TRANSMISSION LINE & THE ACFT CRASHED. TOXICOLOGY TESTS SHOWED THE PLT HAD A BLOOD/ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 0.090% & A URINE/ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 0.097%.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7GN](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7GN-1991-03-26), registration cancelled 1991-03-26, S/N G146 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH A45
- Registry model: [Beech A45](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a45) (registry code 1152006) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: G146
- Airframe hours: 3201
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Vaughan A. Hawkins
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic
- Last inspection: Annual, November 9, 1984, 82 hours before
- Departed: CMA, CAMARILLO, CA
- Destination: CRQ, CARLSBAD, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; military, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; toxicology performed; flight hours: 5,268 total, 30 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Visibility: 15 statute miles

## 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 19850421013589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850421013589A), Apr 21, 1985: Beech A45, Fallbrook, CA, Destroyed. Struck electrical cable while at a very low altitude in IFR weather. Impacted ground. Under influence of alcohol.

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.

---
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.