# NTSB LAX85FA229: Greer Sidewinder "S", N9008X, Tracy, CA, April 28, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 27, 1985, 22:00 local (Apr 28, 1985, 06:00 UTC)
- Place: Tracy, CA
- Coordinates: 37.7294, -121.420967 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7294&lon=-121.4210&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24499
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX85FA229
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24499/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX85FA229

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE ACFT CRASHED SHORT OF RWY 25 AT TRACY, CA, WHILE ON A NIGHT APCH FOR LANDING. A GROUND WITNESS OBSERVED THE ACFTS LIGHTS DESCENDING STRAIGHT DOWN INTO A GRAVEL PIT. THE ACFT IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A 20 DEG NOSE DOWN, 15 DEG LEFT ROLL ATTITUDE. THE RWY LIGHTS ARE ACTIVATED BY THE RADIO TRANSMITTER BEING KEYED ON FREQUENCY 122.8 MHZ. THE LIGHTS WILL STAY ILLUMINATED FOR 15 MINUTES AFTER ACTIVATION. THIS FREQUENCY WAS NOT DISPLAYED ON THE ACFTS RADIO PANEL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N9008X (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: GREER SIDEWINDER "S" (SIDEWINDER)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 212409
- Airframe hours: 188
- Engines: LYCOMING O-290 130 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Robert I Greer
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, April 30, 1984
- Departed: APC, NAPA, CA
- Destination: 036, TRACY, CA
- Airport: O36, Tracy Muni, runway 25, 3,418 × 25 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 297 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright
- Wind: 260° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: LVK

## 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 19850427073979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850427073979A), Apr 27, 1985: Amtrsy SIDEWINDER, Tracy, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Impacted ground in nose down left roll attitude in a gravel pit on final approach. Indicates pilot stalled aircraft

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.