# NTSB LAX86MA074: Beech 95-A55, N1494G, Concord, CA, December 24, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Major investigation · Final report
- Date: December 23, 1985, 20:36 local (Dec 24, 1985, 04:36 UTC)
- Place: Concord, CA
- Coordinates: 38.000671, -122.029289 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0007&lon=-122.0293&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 7 fatal, 17 serious, 62 minor; on the ground: 4 fatal, 17 serious, 62 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25276
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX86MA074
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25276/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX86MA074

## Analysis

DRG ARR, THE ACFT WAS VECTORED FOR AN LDA RWY 19R APCH. AFTER BEING CLRD FOR THE APCH, THE PLT WAS ADVISED THAT RADAR SVC WAS TERMINATED & TOLD TO CONTACT THE TWR. AT 2033 PST, HE RPRTD INBND AT THE FINAL APCH FIX & WAS CLRD FOR THE APCH.APRX 2 MIN LATER, HE DECLARED A MISSED APCH. THE TWR CONTROLLER (CTLR) INSTRUCTED THE PLT TO CONTACT TRAVIS DEP CTL, BUTONLY A 'GARBLED' REPLY WAS HEARD. THERE WAS NO FURTHER RDO CONTACT WITH THE ACFT. AFTER CROSSING THE ARPT ON A SSE HDG, THE ACFT ENTERED A LEFT CLBG TURN AS IF TO BEGIN THE MISSED APCH PROCEDURE, THEN IT TURNED RGT AS IF TO BEGIN A DWNWND &BASE LEG FOR RWY 1L. WITNESSES RPRTD THE ACFT ENTERED CLDS & SHORTLY THEREAFTER, IT REAPPEARED IN A STEEP, DSCNDG, RGT TURN. IT THEN CRASHED INTO A DEPT STORE APRX 1 MI SOUTH OF THE ARPT WHILE IN A 32 DEG RGT BANK, 6 DEG NOSE LOW ATTITUDE.NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE/MALFUNCTION WAS FND THAT WOULD HAVE LED TO THE ACDNT. THE WX (IN PART) WAS: 400' OBSCD, VIS 3/4 MI WITH FOG; SAME AS LDA MINS. MINS FOR CIRCLING APCH WERE 600' & 1 MI. NO COCKPIT VOICE RECORDER INSTALLED OR REQD.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, missed approach (ifr)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - missed approach - initiated
  - ifr procedure - not followed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - aircraft handling - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
  - spiral - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, circling (ifr)
  - object - building(nonresidential)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1494G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1494G-2011-03-28), registration cancelled 2011-03-28, S/N TC-262, built 1962 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 95-A55
- Registry model: [Beech 95-A55](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-95-a55) (registry code 1152704) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: TC262
- Airframe hours: 2165
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-470-L 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Ark Distibuting Co., Inc.
- Registered owner: Sale Reported
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 25, 1985, 13 hours before
- Departed: SBP, SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA
- Airport: CCR, Buchanan Field, runway 19R, 4,712 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 67; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 15,351 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 30° at 9 knots
- Lowest ceiling: 400 ft
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CCR, 1 nm away

## Other investigations on N1494G (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX83LA321](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83LA321), Jul 1, 1983: Beech 95-A55 (N1494G), Franklin, CA, substantial damage

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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