# NTSB LAX87LA067: Cessna 172M, N64533, Chico, CA, December 22, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 21, 1986, 22:30 local (Dec 22, 1986, 06:30 UTC)
- Place: Chico, CA
- Location: 39.7994° N, 121.8765° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from CHICO RGNL (CIC), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7994&lon=-121.8765&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 4 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25491
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX87LA067
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25491/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX87LA067

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, missed approach (ifr)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - below approach/landing minimums (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - in-flight weather advisories - not attained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - proper alignment - not identified, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - missed approach - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DURING AN ILS APCH TO RWY 13L, THE PLT THINKING HE WAS AT THE MISSED APCH POINT COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN 200 YRDS WEST OF THE ARPT. THE ROUTE OF FLT WAS DETERMINED TO BE IN A NORTH WESTERLY DIRECTION. EXAM OF THE NAVIGATIONAL INSTRUMENTS REVEALED THAT THE NUMBER TWO NAVIGATIONAL RADIO WAS TUNED TO AN INCORRECT FREQ. THE PLT HAD RETURNED TO THE ACFT AFTER THE ACCIDENT AND TRIED TO MAKE RADIO CONTACT WITH NEARBY FACILITIES. HE DOES NOT REMEMBER IF HE CHANGED THE NAVIGATIONAL FREQS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N64533](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N64533-1989-03-08), registration cancelled 1989-03-08, S/N 17265289 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M
- Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17265289
- Engines: LYCOMING O-230-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Joseph C. Moody
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, December 10, 1986, 18 hours before
- Departed: SMF, SACRAMENTO, CA
- Destination: CIC, CHICO, CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: CIC, Chico, runway 13L, 6,724 × 150 ft, dirt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 382 total, 187 in this make and model, 330 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: calm
- Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19861221070649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19861221070649A), Dec 21, 1986: Cessna 172M, Chico, CA, Destroyed. The aircraft hit the ground during missed approach. The pilot failed to properly tune navaids or climb on go around

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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