# NTSB LAX90FA082: Beech 95-55, N721L, Chico, CA, February 6, 1990 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: February 6, 1990, 12:54 local (20:54 UTC) - Place: Chico, CA - Coordinates: 39.73981, -121.829788 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7398&lon=-121.8298&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 3 fatal - Status: Completed, report June 8, 1993 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 26609 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX90FA082 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26609/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX90FA082 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) THE FAILURE OF THE PILOTS OF N790T AND N721L TO SEE AND AVOID EACH OTHER. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT OF THE C-182P, N790T, WAS DISORIENTED AND IMPROPERLY ENTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN DUE TO RECENT MARIJUANA USE; THE PILOT OF THE BE-95, N721L, FAILED TO PROPERLY EXECUTE A CROSSWIND LEG IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN; AND THE LOCAL CONTROLLER FAILED TO VISUALLY MAINTAIN ADEQUATE SEPARATION OF THE TWO AIRCRAFT. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, approach - vfr pattern - downwind - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor) - impairment(drugs), pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor) - visual separation - inadequate, atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc) (contributing factor) - Midair collision, approach - vfr pattern - downwind - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - impairment(drugs), pilot in command (contributing factor) - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor) - visual separation - inadequate, atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc) (contributing factor) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) THE C-182P, N790T, HAD INITIALLY CALLED 8.5 MI NW FOR LANDING, & WAS CLEARED TO ENTER A LEFT DOWNWIND. ABOUT 2 MIN LATER THE PLT REPORTED HE WAS COMING IN ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE FIELD, WAS CLEARED FOR A RIGHT DOWNWIND, AND ADVISED OF THE OTHER ACFT IN THE RIGHT TRAFFIC PATTERN. THE BE-95, N721L, HAD JUST MADE A TOUCH-&-GO AND WAS TURNING TO A DOWNWIND. THE CONTROLLERS REPORTED THAT THE TURN WAS ABOUT A 30-DEG CONSTANT TURN WITH NO ROLL-OUT ON THE CROSSWIND LEG. THE ACFT COLLIDED ABOUT 2 MI N OF THE ARPT. THE AIM STATES, FOR RECOMMENDED VFR TRAFFIC PATTERN OPERATIONS, THAT ARRIVING ACFT SHOULD ENTER THE PATTERN ABEAM THE MIDPOINT OF THE RUNWAY. THE TOX EXAM OF THE PLT OF THE C-182P, N790T, DISCLOSED A POSITIVE CANNABINOIDS (MARIJUANA) FINDING, 0.098 MG/L, IN THE URINE SAMPLE. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N721L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N721L-1990-12-12), registration cancelled 1990-12-12, S/N TD329 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH 95-55 - Registry model: [Beech B95](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-b95) (registry code 1153404) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: TD-329 - Airframe hours: 6651 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Chico Flight Center - Registered owner: Dennis Heckerson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, January 25, 1990, 8 hours before - Airport: CIC, Chico, runway 31R ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N790T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N790T-1990-11-19), registration cancelled 1990-11-19, S/N 18262370 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182P - Registry model: [Cessna 182P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182p) (registry code 2075816) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18262370 - Airframe hours: 2714 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470S 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: Timbuck 2 Flying Club - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 2, 1989, 27 hours before - Departed: RDD, REDDING, CA - Airport: CIC, Chico, runway 31R ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N721L; age 36; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 4,300 total - Pilot, aircraft N790T; age 42; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 383 total, 102 in this make and model, 338 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 15 knots - Visibility: 60 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: CIC, 1 nm away ## 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 19900206001692A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900206001692A), Feb 6, 1990: Beech 95A55, Chico, CA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. In pattern turning downwind was hit and tail severed by N790T whose pilot under drug use reported wrong position. - [Accident 19900206001691A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900206001691A), Feb 6, 1990: Cessna 182P, Chico, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Disoriented made false position reports. Collided with N7216 that was trying downwind. Impaired by use marihuana. 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.