# NTSB LAX87FA028: Fairchild Swearingen SA-226TC, N137WW, Santa Barbara, CA, October 31, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 30, 1986, 19:35 local (Oct 31, 1986, 03:35 UTC)
- Place: Santa Barbara, CA
- Coordinates: 34.500343, -120.119071 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5003&lon=-120.1191&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 2 minor, 11 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 11, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25355
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX87FA028
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25355/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX87FA028

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - warning system(other) - disabled (cause)
  - checklist - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
  - checklist - inattentive, copilot/second pilot (cause)
  - lack of total experience in kind of aircraft, copilot/second pilot (contributing factor)
  - gear extension - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - wheels up landing - inadvertent, copilot/second pilot (cause)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

ON A DARK NIGHT, IN CAVU WEATHER, THE CAPTAIN DIRECTED THE FIRST OFFICER (WHO WAS FLYING) TO DISARM THE LANDING GEAR WARNING HORN SYSTEM BY PULLING ITS CIRCUIT BREAKER. THE F/O COMPLIED & DID NOT CHALLENGE THE CAPTAIN. ON FINAL APPROACH THE F/O FAILED TO CHECK THAT HIS 'GEAR DOWN' COMMAND WAS COMPLIED WITH & THE CAPTAIN FORGOT TO LOWER THE GEAR. AS THE ACFT SLID TO A STOP ON ITS BELLY THE RIGHT ENGINE'S 3 PROP BLADES FRAGMENTED & PUNCTURED THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE 2 PAX WHO WERE SEATED IN ROW 2 ABEAM THE BLADES' PLANE OF ROTATION WERE STRUCK BY FRAGMENTS & RECEIVED SERIOUS LEG & MINOR FACIAL LACERATIONS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N137WW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N137WW-1993-12-08), registration cancelled 1993-12-08, S/N TC401 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: FAIRCHILD SWEARINGEN SA-226TC
- Registry model: [Swearingen SA226TC](https://openairdocs.org/model/swearingen-sa226tc) (registry code 8780404) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: TC-401
- Airframe hours: 11024
- Engines: GARRETT TPE331-10-VA 840 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Wings West Airlines, Inc., doing business as American Eagle
- Registered owner: Fairchild Aircraft Corp.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: LAX, LOS ANGELES, CA
- Destination: SBA, SANTA BARBARA, CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: SBA, Santa Barbara, runway 25, 6,049 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 10,485 total, 2,292 in this make and model, 8,900 as pilot in command, 262 in the last 90 days, 83 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 10° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SBA

## 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 19861030052429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19861030052429A), Oct 30, 1986: Swrngn SA226TC, Santa Barbara, CA, Substantial damage. Failed to extend the gear for landing and landed gear up. Gear horn circuit breaker had been pulled due turbulence.

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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