# NTSB LAX87FA300: Globe GC-1B, N80806, Springville, CA, August 9, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 9, 1987, 12:19 local (19:19 UTC)
- Place: Springville, CA
- Coordinates: 36.1706, -118.700866 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1706&lon=-118.7009&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report July 3, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25420
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX87FA300
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25420/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX87FA300

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - uphill (contributing factor)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - inadequate recurrent training, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - maintenance,annual inspection - not attained, pilot in command

## Analysis

THE PILOT WAS FLYING OVER SHARPLY RISING TERRAIN IN A CANYON IN A MOUNTAINOUS AREA. THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT ROOM IN THE CANYON TO MANUEVER THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD MAINTAINED AN AIRSPEED JUST ABOVE A STALL WHILE ATTEMPTING TO FLY THROUGH THE CANYON. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED TREES THEN THE TERRAIN WHERE THE TERRAIN ROSE ABRUPTLY. DENSITY ALTITUDE COMPUTED FOR THE 5,300 FT MSL ACCIDENT SITE ELEVATION WAS OVER 10,400 FT MSL. THE AIRCRAFT WAS ABOUT 24 POUNDS OVER MAX GROSS WEIGHT AT TAKEOFF. THE PILOT'S LAST BIENNIAL FLIGHT REVIEW WAS MORE THAN NINE YEARS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT STATED THAT THERE WERE NO PRE-IMPACT MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES. HOWEVER, THE AIRCRAFT HAD NOT HAD AN ANNUAL INSPECTION SINCE JAN 1985.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N80806](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N80806-1989-03-08), registration cancelled 1989-03-08, S/N 209 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Globe GC-1B
- Registry model: [Globe GC-1B](https://openairdocs.org/model/globe-gc-1b) (registry code 9230104) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 209
- Airframe hours: 25501
- Engines: CONTINENTAL C-145-2 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Tompkins, Thomas E.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 16, 1985, 87 hours before
- Departed: PTV, PORTERVILLE, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 4,033 total, 87 in this make and model, 243 as pilot in command, 164 in the last 90 days, 53 in the last 30 days, 23 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 88 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: VIS, 40 nm away

## 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 19870809083279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870809083279A), Aug 9, 1987: Univac STCGC1, Springville, CA, Destroyed. Unable to outclimb rising terrain. Crashed into trees and burned. Density altitude and gross weight were factors.

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.