# NTSB LAX89FA192: Beech 200, N39YV, Azusa, CA, May 10, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 10, 1989, 14:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Azusa, CA
- Coordinates: 34.280872, -117.870056 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2809&lon=-117.8701&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 10, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26228
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX89FA192
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26228/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89FA192

## Probable cause

IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN HAS INADVERTENT FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC) AND SUBSEQUENT COLLISION WITH MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.  THE WEATHER AND TERRAIN CONDITIONS WERE CONSIDERED TO BE RELATED FACTORS.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, climb
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)

## Analysis

BEFORE THE FLT, THE PLTS OF 2 BEECH 200 ACFT EVALUATED WX RPRTS AT A FIXED BASE OPERATION & MADE A COMPUTER WX INQUIRY. THEY DEPARTED SANTA MONICA, CA, ON A POSITIONING FLT TO FARMINGTON, NM, WITHOUT FILING A FLT PLAN. WHILE EN ROUTE, THE LEAD ACFT WAS ABOUT 1 TO 3 MIN AHEAD OF THE 2ND ACFT. THE 2ND PLT RPRTD THEY WERE AT ABOUT 4500 FT MSL AS THEY NEARED MTNS & THE CLOUDS WERE ABOUT 1000 FT ABOVE. AS THEY CONTD EASTWARD IN A VALLEY, THE 2ND PLT HEARD THE LEAD PLT RPRT HE WAS 'GOING UP.'  THIS WAS THE LAST KNOWN TRANSMISSION FROM THE LEAD ACFT. THE 2ND PLT CONTINUED HIS FLT IN VMC. TWO DAYS LATER, THE LEAD ACFT WAS FOUND, WHERE IT HAD CRASHED ABOUT 100 FT BELOW THE TOP OF A 7400 FT MTN RIDGE. IMPACT OCCURRED ON A HDG OF ABOUT 030 DEG. THE MTN RIDGE WAS ORIENTED ON HDGS OF 060 & 240 DEG.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N39YV](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N39YV-1995-01-17), registration cancelled 1995-01-17, S/N BB39 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 200
- Registry model: [Beech 200](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-200) (registry code 1152920) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: BB-39
- Airframe hours: 10267
- Engines: P&W PT6A-41 1025 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Operator: Mesa Airlines, Inc.
- Registered owner: Mesa Airlines, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, May 3, 1989, 35 hours before
- Departed: SMO, SANTA MONICA, CA
- Destination: FMN, FARMINGTON, NM

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; commercial, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 11,500 total, 125 in this make and model, 10,000 as pilot in command, 75 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19890510011329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890510011329A), May 10, 1989: Beech 200BEECH, Azusa, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Lowering ceiling in valley,began climb VFR into clouds to on top but collided with mountain ridge.

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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