# NTSB LAX89FA287: Cessna 180J, N42695, Tracy, CA, August 24, 1989 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: August 24, 1989, 09:27 local (16:27 UTC) - Place: Tracy, CA - Coordinates: 37.72966, -121.420158 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7297&lon=-121.4202&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal - Status: Completed, report June 10, 1991 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 26242 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX89FA287 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26242/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89FA287 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT BY BOTH PILOTS, WHICH RESULTED IN THEIR FAILURE TO SEE-AND-AVOID EACH OTHER'S AIRCRAFT. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE LACK OF A CONFLICT ALERT SYSTEM FOR THE STOCKTON ARTS II RADAR. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, cruise - normal - radar,conflict alert - unavailable (contributing factor) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - Midair collision, cruise - normal - radar,conflict alert - unavailable (contributing factor) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis (aircraft 2) BEECH 95 (N9750Y) WAS TRACKING SOUTH AT APRX 185 KTS AS CESSNA 180 (N42695) WAS TRACKING 118 DEG AT ABOUT 147 KTS. BOTH WERE IN VMC, RCVG RADAR SVC (VFR FLT FLWG) FM STOCKTON TRACON. DRG AUTOMATED RADAR HANDOFFS TO TRACY SECTOR (TR) CTLR, THE PLTS RPRTD AT 5500' MSL. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE 2 ACFT CONVERGED, COLLIDED AT ABOUT 5500' MSL, THEN CRASHED IN UNCTLD DSCNTS. THE CTLR WAS OCCUPIED WITH CTLG 2 OTR ACFT. BOTH WERE OPERG UNDER IFR & REQUIRED HIS ATTN TO MAINT SEPN. THE COLLISION OCCURRED AS THE CTLR WAS CONCENTRATING ON SEPN OF THE 2 IFR ACFT. N9750Y CONVERGED ON N42695 FROM THE NE (APRX70 DEG LEFT OF N42695'S NOSE). N42695 CONVERGED ON N9750Y FM THE SW (APRX 48 DEG RGT OF N9750Y'S NOSE). THE CTLR WAS NOTAWARE OF THE COLLISION UNTIL LATER. THE STOCKTON ARTS II RADAR WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A CONFLICT ALERT SYS. THE ARTS II RADAR WAS PROGRAMMED TO MOVE NO BEACON (VFR) CALL SIGNS TO THE TAB LIST AFTER NOT RCVG A TRANSPONDER REPLY FOR 5 SCANS (APRX 20 SEC). AFTER AN ADNL 33 SCANS (A TOTAL OF APRX 2.5 MIN), THE CALL SIGN WOULD DISAPPEAR FM THE TAB LIST, AS WELL. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N42695](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N42695-1990-07-16), registration cancelled 1990-07-16, S/N 18052370 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 180J - Registry model: [Cessna 180J](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180j) (registry code 2072622) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18052370 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-R 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Lbf Equipment Co. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: SAN RAFAEL, CA - Destination: FAT, FRESNO, CA - Airport: 036, Tracy ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N9750Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9750Y-1990-09-20), registration cancelled 1990-09-20, S/N TC431 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH 95-A55 - Registry model: [Beech 95-A55](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-95-a55) (registry code 1152704) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: TC-431 - Airframe hours: 1417 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-470-L 270 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Samuel J. Perry - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 3, 1989, 18 hours before - Departed: SAC, SACRAMENTO, CA - Destination: SMX, SANTA MARIA, CA - Airport: 036, Tracy ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N42695; age 59; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,200 total - Pilot, aircraft N9750Y; age 68; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 3,600 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °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 19890824031512A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890824031512A), Aug 24, 1989: Cessna 180J, Tracy, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Overtaken and struck by N9750Y while on converging courses. Both displaying mode c and contact with ATC. No warning - [Accident 19890824031511A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890824031511A), Aug 24, 1989: Beech 95B55, Tracy, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Overtook and collided with N42695. On converging courses with mode c and contact with ATC. No related traffic given 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.