# NTSB LAX90FA068: Cessna 182P, N1283S, Napa, CA, January 7, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 7, 1990, 15:17 local (23:17 UTC)
- Place: Napa, CA
- Coordinates: 38.55093, -122.15081 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5509&lon=-122.1508&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 9, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26607
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX90FA068
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26607/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX90FA068

## Probable cause

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO PROPERLY EXECUTE THE PUBLISHED APPROACH AND MISSED APPROACH WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION WITH MOUNTAINIOUS TERRAIN.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, missed approach (ifr)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly
  - weather condition - low ceiling
  - navigation receiver - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
  - ifr procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN WHILE EXECUTING AN INSTRUMENT MISSED APPROACH. THE RECORDED RADAR DATA SHOWED THAT THE ACFT WAS ABOUT 4 MILES PAST THE MISSED APPROACH POINT WHEN THE TURN WAS INITIATED. THE VOR RWY 6 APPROACH HAS A 620 FT MDA AND THE MISSED APPROACH POINT IS DEFINED AS 3.8 DME ON THE SCAGGS ISLAND VOR 050 RADIAL. THE RADAR DATA SHOWED THE ACFT CROSSED OVER THE AIRPORT DESCENDING THROUGH 1,800 FT MSL. THE LOWEST ALT ACHIEVED BY THE ACFT WAS 900 FT MSL, WHICH OCCURRED JUST BEFORE THE ACFT INITIATED THE MISSED APPROACH TURN. THE DME UNIT IN THE AIRCRAFT CAN FUNCTION IN BOTH AN INTERNAL FREQ MODE AND A REMOTE MODE. IN THE REMOTE MODE THE DME PROVIDES INFO FROM THE NAV RADIOS. IN THE INTERNAL MODE, THE UNIT GIVES INFO BASED ON THE FREQ SET IN THE UNITS INTERNAL MEMORY. EXAM OF THE DME REVEALED THAT THE UNIT WAS IN THE INTERNAL MODE AND SELECTED TO THE CONCORD VOR, NOT THE SCAGGS ISLAND VOR.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1283S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1283S-2012-06-14), registration cancelled 2012-06-14, S/N 18264851, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182P
- Registry model: [Cessna 182P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182p) (registry code 2075816) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18264851
- Airframe hours: 1913
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470S 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Shieman, David F.
- Registered owner: Matsco, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 20, 1989, 75 hours before
- Departed: CCR, CONCORD, CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: APC, Napa Co., runway 6, 5,007 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 60; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,091 total, 683 in this make and model, 855 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 800 ft overcast
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: APC, 3 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 19900107000089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900107000089A), Jan 7, 1990: Cessna 182P, Napa, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Failed to climb on missed approach. Struck upslope of cloud obscured hill. May have misjudged time from VOR.

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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