# NTSB LAX89LA210: Beech E-90, N987GM, Tuba City, AZ, June 1, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 31, 1989, 22:15 local (Jun 1, 1989, 05:15 UTC)
- Place: Tuba City, AZ
- Coordinates: 36.090476, -111.129074 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0905&lon=-111.1291&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 22, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26423
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX89LA210
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26423/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89LA210

## Probable cause

THAT GROUND PERSONNEL DID NOT PROPERLY CLEAR THE RUNWAY OF ANIMALS PRIOR TO REPORTING TO THE PILOT THAT IT WAS CLEAR TO LAND.

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - object - animal(s) (contributing factor)
  - airport operations - improper, airport personnel (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT 15 MINUTES PRIOR TO ARRIVAL HE NOTIFIED THE HOSPITAL AND ASKED THEM TO CHECK THE RUNWAY. AS HE ENTERED DOWNWIND SECURITY ADVISED HIM OF ANIMALS ON THE RUNWAY SO HE CIRCLED UNTIL THEY CALLED BACK STATING IT WAS CLEAR. JUST AS THE AIRPLANE WAS TOUCHING DOWN, TWO HORSES BEGAN TO CROSS THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO GO-AROUND; HOWEVER, THE AIRPLANE CONTACTED BOTH ANIMALS AND THE PILOT ELECTED TO ABORT THE GO-AROUND. THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRPLANE SLID TO A STOP. A POST CRASH FIRE IGNITED AND WAS EXTINGUISHED SHORTLY THEREAFTER. THE LANDING WAS BEING MADE DURING DARK NIGHT CONDITIONS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N987GM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N987GM-1989-09-21), registration cancelled 1989-09-21, S/N LW98 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH E-90
- Registry model: [Beech E-90](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-e-90) (registry code 1152914) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: LW-98
- Airframe hours: 5344
- Engines: P&W PT6A-28 550 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Guardian Health Services, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, May 5, 1989, 17 hours before
- Departed: FLG, FLAGSTAFF, AZ
- Airport: TBC, Tuba City, runway 19, 4,475 × 52 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; commercial, flight engineer, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 4,445 total, 260 in this make and model, 4,189 as pilot in command, 79 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °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 19890531013819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890531013819A), May 31, 1989: Beech E90, Tuba City, AZ, Substantial damage. Saw horses on runway,tried to go around,gear hit horses. Aborted. Landed minus left gear. Assured runway was clear.

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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