# NTSB LAX87FA350: Cessna 340A, San Diego, CA, September 30, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 30, 1987, 07:59 local (14:59 UTC)
- Place: San Diego, CA
- Location: 32.7153° N, 117.1573° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of San Diego, CA, within about 10 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7153&lon=-117.1573&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 6 fatal
- Status: Completed, report August 8, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25429
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX87FA350
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25429/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX87FA350

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - light condition - sunglare (contributing factor)
  - visual/aural perception, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - ifr procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - impairment(alcohol), pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

AT APRX 0600, THE ACFT DEPD GUERRERO NEGRO, MEXICO ON AN AIR TAXI FLT TO TIJUANA, MEXICO. AT 0715, THE TIJUANA WX WAS RPRTD AS PARTIALLY OBSCURED, VIS 1 MI WITH FOG, HAZE & SMOKE, WIND CALM. DRG ARRIVAL, THE PLT WAS CLRD FOR AN ILS RWY 9 APCH & RPRTD OVER THE FINAL APCH FIX. HOWEVER, THE ACFT CRASHED AT ABOUT 0759, BFR REACHING THE MIDDLE MARKER,WHICH WAS 1/2 MI FROM THE APCH END OF RWY 9. IMPACT WAS ON A RIDGE ABOUT 110 FT BELOW THE ARPT ELEVATION & APRX 100 YDS NORTH OF THE INTERNATIONAL BORDER. THE ACFT WAS FND A SHORT TIME LATER BY U.S. BORDER PATROL PSNL. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FND. THE 0800 WX AT TIJUANA WAS IN PART: SKY PARTIALLY OBSCURED, VIS 1/10 MI WITH FOG & HAZE,WIND 210 DEG AT 4 KTS. ABT 1 MI NORTH AT BROWN FIELD, THE WX WAS IN PART: SKY PARTIALLY OBSCURED, VIS 3/4 MI WITH FOG & HAZE, WIND 280 DEG AT 4 KTS. A TOXICOLOGY CHECK OF THE PLT'S BLOOD SHOWED AN ALCOHOL LVL OF 0.07%. CALCULATIONS SHOWED THE SUN WOULD HAVE BEEN 16 DEG ABV THE HORIZON ON A MAGNETIC AZIMUTH OF 89.8 DEG.

## Aircraft

- Registration: XAKOA (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 340A
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 340A0978
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-NB 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Non-U.S., commercial
- Registered owner: Aero Servicio De Sonora
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: GUERRERO NEGRO
- Destination: TIJUANA,MEXICO, OF
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: MMTJ, Gen Rodriguez Intl, runway 9, 8,202 × 144 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: unknown, unknown; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,525 total, 100 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 260° at 4 knots
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SDM, 1 nm away

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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