# NTSB LAX90DUD02: Reid Long EZ, N100PY, Santa Monica, CA, February 26, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: February 26, 1990, 11:40 local (19:40 UTC)
- Place: Santa Monica, CA
- Coordinates: 34.009712, -118.460937 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0097&lon=-118.4609&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 4, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26528
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX90DUD02
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26528/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX90DUD02

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S INFLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO SPATIAL DISORIENTATION.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, go-around (vfr)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, go-around (vfr)
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

AT THE CONCLUSION OF A LOCAL FLIGHT, THE PILOT ENTERED DOWNWIND FOR LANDING. THE TOWER CLEARED THE AIRCRAFT FOR LANDING AND THE PILOT STATED HE WOULD BE MAKING A 'LONG DOWNWIND.' TWO MINUTES LATER, THE PILOT TOLD THE TOWER THAT HE HAD LOST VISUAL CONTACT WITH THE RUNWAY AND WOULD BE MAKING A GO-AROUND. THREE MINUTES LATER, THE TOWER CONTROLLER QUERIED THE FLIGHT ABOUT ITS POSTION AND THE PILOT RESPONDED THAT 'ACTUALLY I CAN'T TELL.' THAT WAS THE LAST COMMUNICATION WITH THE FLIGHT. THE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND FLOATING ABOUT 4 MILES OFF SHORE. A HELICOPTER PILOT FLYING IN THE VICINITY REPORTED THAT A DENSE FOG BANK WAS MOVING ON SHORE AT THE TIME WITH TOPS AT ABOUT 900 FEET AND BASES AT ABOUT 400 FEET. THE WITNESS SAID THE INFLIGHT VISIBILITY WAS ONE HALF TO THREE QUARTERS OF A MILE BENEATH THE FOG BANK.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N100PY](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N100PY-1990-10-30), registration cancelled 1990-10-30, S/N 344 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: REID LONG EZ
- Registry model: [Reid William Wallace LONG EZ](https://openairdocs.org/model/reid-william-wallace-long-ez) (registry code 05609LT) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 344
- Airframe hours: 390
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E3D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Reid, William W.
- Registered owner: Reid, William Wallace
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: SMO, SANTA MONICA, CA
- Destination: SMO
- Airport: SMO, Santa Monica, runway 21, 4,987 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 72; private, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,998 total, 300 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SMO, 4 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 19900226002869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900226002869A), Feb 26, 1990: Amtrru VARIEZELONG, Santa Monica, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Entered fog area over water,lost visual reference and control. Struck water at high velocity breaking up aircraft.

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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