# NTSB LAX87LA218: Cessna 150L, N6669G, San Jose, CA, May 27, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 27, 1987, 00:21 local (07:21 UTC)
- Place: San Jose, CA
- Coordinates: 37.339603, -121.879974 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3396&lon=-121.8800&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report July 5, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25596
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX87LA218
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25596/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX87LA218

## Sequence of events

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

- Undershoot, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - impairment(alcohol), pilot in command (cause)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - distance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach

## Analysis

WHILE ON FINAL APCH TO LAND ON RWY 31R AT NIGHT, THE ACFT FLEW TOO LOW, STRUCK TREES, THEN COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN. THE PLT WAS TAKEN TO A HOSPITAL WITH SERIOUS INJURIES & A BLOOD SAMPLE WAS DRAWN AT 0205 PDT. A CHECK OF HIS BLOOD SHOWED AN ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 0.14%. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL PROBLEM OF THE ACFT OR ENG WAS RPRTD.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6669G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6669G-1989-09-18), registration cancelled 1989-09-18, S/N 15072169 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150L
- Registry model: [Cessna 150L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150l) (registry code 2071826) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15072169
- Airframe hours: 3462
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Firebaugh, Edward C.
- Registered owner: Firebaugh, Edward C.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 1986, 81 hours before
- Departed: RHV, SAN JOSE, CA
- Airport: RHV, Reid-Hillview, runway 31R, 3,101 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 895 total, 775 in this make and model, 835 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 330° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,200 ft broken
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: RHV, 1 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 19870527016119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870527016119A), May 27, 1987: Cessna 150L, San Jose, CA, Destroyed. The aircraft hit a tree on final during a night flight. The pilot had been drinking and taking pain medication.

## Other investigations on N6669G (1)

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.

- [NTSB OAK73DVA60](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK73DVA60), May 6, 1973: Cessna 150 (N6669G), Los Banos, CA, substantial damage

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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