# NTSB LAX87FA212: Rockwell 114, N114CH, Los Gatos, CA, May 25, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 25, 1987, 16:29 local (23:29 UTC)
- Place: Los Gatos, CA
- Coordinates: 37.22005, -121.989616 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2201&lon=-121.9896&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 31, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25402
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX87FA212
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25402/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX87FA212

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DRG A PREFLT WX BRIEFING, THE PLT WAS ADZD THE FORECAST FOR OAKLAND (19 MI NNW OF HIS DESTN) WAS FOR A 3000' BROKEN CEILING WITH OCCASIONAL 3000' SCATTERED, 5000' BROKEN & A CHANCE OF LIGHT RAIN SHOWERS. HE FILED A VFR FLT PLAN & DEPD. AT 1347 PDT, THE PLT OPENED HIS FLT PLAN & PROCEEDED WITHOUT FURTHER COMMUNICATION UNTIL HE WAS ABOUT 45 MI SE OF HIS DESTN. AT 1615 PDT, HE CONTACTED BAY TRACON & ASKED FOR & RCVD TRAFFIC ADZYS. ABOUT 12 TO 14 MIN LATER, RADIO & RADAR CONTACT WERE LOST. THE ACFT CRASHED ABOUT 22 MI FROM THE DESTN WHEN IT IMPACTED JUST BELOW THE TOP OF A MTN PEAK AT AN ELEV OF APRX 3350'. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. PSNL IN THE VCNTY OF THE ACDNT SITE SAID THERE WAS FOG WITH A VISIBILITY OF 50' TO 100'. THE CLOUD BASES IN THAT AREA WERE ESTIMATED TO BE ABOUT 800' BELOW THE ACDNT SITE. SVRL PEOPLE, WHO KNEW THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PLT, SAID HE OFTEN FLEW IN CLOUDS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N114CH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N114CH-1988-10-06), registration cancelled 1988-10-06, S/N 14164 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROCKWELL 114
- Registry model: [Rockwell International 114](https://openairdocs.org/model/rockwell-international-114) (registry code 7630314) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 14164
- Airframe hours: 1496
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Robert C. Wynkoop
- Registered owner: Edn Caravan Tours, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, July 15, 1986, 165 hours before
- Departed: CRQ, CARLSBAD, CA
- Destination: PAO, PALO ALTO, CA
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,100 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 225° at 10 knots
- Temperature: 39 °F

## 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 19870525015469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870525015469A), May 25, 1987: Gulstm 114, Los Gatos, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. VFR pilot flying in IFR conditions crashed into a hill in a wing level attitude. Pilot known as a daredevil type.

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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