# NTSB LAX90FA106: Piper PA28-201T, N8359H, Yountville, CA, February 27, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 27, 1990, 11:55 local (19:55 UTC)
- Place: Yountville, CA
- Coordinates: 38.410709, -122.359756 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.4107&lon=-122.3598&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 21, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26617
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX90FA106
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26617/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX90FA106

## Probable cause

THE PILOT USED POOR JUDGEMENT BY ATTEMPTING A V.F.R. FLIGHT TO AN AREA WITH FORECASTED INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS AND CONTINUING THE FLIGHT WHEN I.F.R. CONDITIONS WERE ENCOUNTERED.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, maneuvering
  - weather condition - low ceiling
  - weather condition - fog
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - flight into known adverse weather - intentional, pilot in command (cause)
  - vfr flight into imc - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - terrain condition - open field

## Analysis

THE NONINSTRUMENT RATED PLT CALLED FLT SERVICE A DAY BEFORE THE ACCIDENT AND REQUESTED AND RECEIVED AN IFR BRIEFING FOR THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT. THE WX BRIEFER PROVIDED THE PLT WITH THE BRIEFING WHICH CONSISTED OF IFR CONDITIONS AT THE DESTINATION AIRPORT AREA WHICH INCLUDED THE ACCIDENT SITE. GND WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE MANEUVERING IN THE ACCIDENT AREA BEFORE IT ENTERED INTO THE 500 FT CEILING STRATUS CLOUDS. THE PREVAILING VISIBILITY WAS LESS THAN 1 MILE. THE ENGINE SOUND INCREASED RAPIDLY WHEN THE AIRPLANE ENTERED THE CLOUDS ABT 2 SECONDS BEFORE IT COLLIDED WITH THE SIDE OF THE HILL. THE ACFT EXAMINATION DISCLOSED THAT IT STRUCK THE HILLSIDE IN A LEVEL FLT ATTITUDE; THE PROPELLER BLADES AND HUB ASSY SHOWED DAMAGE CHARACTERISTICS CONSISTENT WITH HIGH POWER BEING DEVELOPED AT IMPACT. NO PREEXISTING MALFUNCTIONS AND/OR FAILURES WERE NOTED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8359H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8359H-1991-03-28), registration cancelled 1991-03-28, S/N 28R8131100 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28-201T
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28RT-201T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28rt-201t) (registry code 7102817) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28R8131100
- Airframe hours: 649
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-360-FB1 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Fraser, Robert G.
- Registered owner: John E. Jansheski
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 21, 1989, 24 hours before
- Departed: S21, SUNRIVER, OR
- Destination: CA35, SAN RAFAEL, CA
- Airport: APC, Nape

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 63; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 395 total, 140 in this make and model, 335 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 64 °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 19900227002939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900227002939A), Feb 27, 1990: Piper PA28201T, Napa, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Entered low cloud deck. Struck hillside. Aircraft demolished and burned on impact.

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.