# NTSB LAX88FA314: Cessna 177RG, N33283, San Luis Obispo, CA, September 8, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 7, 1988, 20:39 local (Sep 8, 1988, 03:39 UTC)
- Place: San Luis Obispo, CA
- Coordinates: 35.249427, -120.619148 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2494&lon=-120.6191&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 9, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25863
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX88FA314
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25863/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX88FA314

## Probable cause

PILOTS ERRONEOUS INTERPRETATION OF HIS MISSED APPROACH CLEARANCE, AND, HIS PERFORMANCE OF THE PUBLISHED MISSED APPROACH PROCEDURE FOR THE SANTA MARIA ILS INSTEAD OF THE SAN LUIS OBISPO LOCALIZER.

## 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)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly
  - atc clearance - not understood, pilot in command (cause)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - ifr procedure - misread, pilot in command (cause)
  - missed approach - improper, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

WHILE ENROUTE IFR TO SANTA BARBARA THE WX CONDITIONS WENT BELOW MINIMUMS. THE PLT FIRST ASKED ABOUT SANTA MARIA (SMX) AS AN ALTERNATE BUT THE WX WAS BELOW MINIMUMS AS WELL. THE PLT THEN SELECTED SAN LUIS OBISPO (SBP) FOR HIS ALTERNATE DEST. RADAR DATA SHOWED THE ACFT WAS HIGH DURING THE LOCALIZER APPROACH TO SBP AND PASSED OVER THE AIRPORT AT 2,600 FT MSL (2,300 AGL). THE CONTROLLER ISSUED A CLIMB TO 5,000 FT AND TOLD THE PLT TO EXECUTE THE MISSED APPROACH AS PUBLISHED. THERE WAS CONFUSION ABOUT THE INSTRUCTION. THE PLT STATED 'MISSED APPROACH AS PUBLISHED,' TO WHICH THE CONTROLLER RESPONDED 'AFFIRMATIVE'. RADAR DATA SHOWED THE ACFT DESCENDED TO 2,200 FT, WHERE RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST. ON SITE EXAM REVEALED THE ACFT HIT THE TOP OF A HILL IN A LEVEL STD RATE TURN TO THE LEFT. TWO APPROACH PLATES WERE ON THE PLTS CLIPBOARD, THE SMX ILS & THE SBP LOCALIZER. THE SMX MISSED APPROACH SPECIFIES A CLIMBING LEFT TURN TO 2,000 BACK TO THE VOR. BOTH APPROACH PLATES LOOK SIMILIAR.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N33283](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N33283-2012-10-03), registration cancelled 2012-10-03, S/N 177RG0942, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 177RG
- Registry model: [Cessna 177RG](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177rg) (registry code 2073709) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-a1b6d) (registry code 41593, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 177RG0942
- Airframe hours: 1359
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1B6D 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Lutzelmann, Andreas M.
- Registered owner: Irving S Sobel
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 1987, 92 hours before
- Departed: MRY, MONTEREY, CA
- Destination: SBA, SANTA BARBARA, CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: SBP, San Luis Obispo, runway 11, 4,799 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; commercial, foreign; 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: 551 total, 5 in this make and model, 404 as pilot in command, 36 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 300° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 700 ft overcast
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SBP, 6 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 19880907038399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880907038399A), Sep 7, 1988: Cessna 177RG, San Luis Obispo, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Struck top of a hill on a missed approach procedure. Pilot descended below mda in dark night with no ground lights.

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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