# NTSB LAX89FA083: Pitts S2B, N5332G, Ramona, CA, January 10, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 10, 1989, 14:45 local (22:45 UTC)
- Place: Ramona, CA
- Coordinates: 33.069561, -116.829483 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.0696&lon=-116.8295&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 30, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26202
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX89FA083
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26202/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89FA083

## Probable cause (aircraft 2)

THE PITTS PILOT'S INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR(S) WAS: INADEQUATE RADIO COMMUNICATIONS BY THE PITTS PILOT.

## Probable cause (aircraft 1)

THE PITTS PILOT'S INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR(S) WAS: INADEQUATE RADIO COMMUNICATIONS BY THE PITTS PILOT.

## Sequence of events

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

- Midair collision, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - radio communications - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - monitoring - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
- Midair collision, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause)
  - radio communications - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor)
  - monitoring - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis (aircraft 2)

BELLANCA PLT HEARD TO BROADCAST HIS POSITION ON FINAL APPROACH. PITTS PLT HEARD TO BROADCAST HIS POSITION ON DONWWIND; NO OTHER TRANSMISSION HEARD. PITTS OVERTOOK & DESCENDED ONTO BELLANCA ON SHORT FINAL.

## Analysis (aircraft 1)

BELLANCA PLT HEARD TO BROADCAST HIS POSITION ON FINAL APPROACH. PITTS PLT HEARD TO BROADCAST HIS POSITION ON DOWNWIND; NO OTHER TRANSMISSIONS HEARD. PITTS OVERTOOK & DESCENDED ONTO BELLANCA ON SHORT FINAL.

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: N5332G (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PITTS S2B
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 5059
- Airframe hours: 224
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-D4A5 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Kohorst, Donald P.
- Registered owner: Donald P Kohorst
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic
- Last inspection: Annual, October 31, 1988
- Airport: L39, Ramona, runway 27, 4,000 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: [N87002](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N87002-2013-09-17), registration cancelled 2013-09-17, S/N 700-74, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELLANCA 7GCBC
- Registry model: [Bellanca 7GCBC](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-7gcbc) (registry code 1220601) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 700-74
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Matson, Douglas
- Registered owner: Paul T Piasecki
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Airport: L39, Ramona, runway 27, 4,000 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot, aircraft N5332G; age 55; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; flight hours: 180 total, 13 in this make and model, 160 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days
- Pilot, aircraft N87002; age 51; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; flight hours: 20,700 total, 20,700 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F

## FAA reports on this event (2)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19890110000381A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890110000381A), Jan 10, 1989: Child S2BPITTS, Ramona, CA, Destroyed. Descended upon and collided with N87002,both on final. Impact severed tail of the overtaken Bellanca trainer.
- [Accident 19890110000382A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890110000382A), Jan 10, 1989: Bbavia 7GCBC, Ramona, CA, Destroyed. Was overtaken by a descending pitts,N533G,both on final.Bellanca empannage was severed by the impact. Both crashed.

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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