# NTSB LAX90FA123: Cessna 172N, N2985E, Buena Park, CA, March 19, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 19, 1990, 06:48 local (14:48 UTC)
- Place: Buena Park, CA
- Location: 33.8480° N, 117.9993° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from FULLERTON MUNI (FUL), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8480&lon=-117.9993&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 14, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26621
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX90FA123
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26621/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX90FA123

## Probable cause

THE PILOT NOT MAINTAINING THE PRESCRIBED MINIMUM DESCENT ALTITUDE DURING AN INSTRUMENT APPROACH.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - weather condition - fog
  - minimum descent altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - wire,transmission

## Analysis

FOR OVER ONE YEAR THE INSTRUMENT-RATED PILOT REGULARLY FLEW HIMSELF TO WORK BETWEEN HIS SANTA BARBARA HOME AND HIS BUSINESS OFFICE NEAR THE SANTA ANA AIRPORT (SNA). UPON APPROACHING SNA THE PILOT MADE AN ILS APPROACH, FOLLOWED BY A MISSED APPROACH. HE CLIMBED TO 2,500 FEET AND DIVERTED TO THE FULLERTON AIRPORT (FUL). THE PILOT WAS CLEARED FOR A VOR APPROACH AND RADAR SERVICE WAS TERMINATED AT THE FAF. THE PILOT DESCENDED ON THE PRESCRIBED TRACK TOWARD FUL BUT FAILED TO ARREST HIS DESCENT AT THE MDA, COLLIDED WITH POWER LINES AND TERRAIN 1.9 STATUTE MILES BEFORE THE AIRPORT. THE 65-YR-OLD PILOT'S MEDICAL CERTIFICATE HAD EXPIRED. THE PILOT HAD A RECENT HISTORY OF HYPERTENSION, AND AT AUTOPSY EVDIECNE WAS FOUND OF HYPERTENSIVE CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2985E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2985E-1992-09-16), registration cancelled 1992-09-16, S/N 17271395 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17271395
- Airframe hours: 2780
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Nevitt, Dale M.
- Registered owner: Dale M & Patricia L Nevitt
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 6, 1989
- Departed: SBA, SANTA BARBARA, CA
- Destination: FUL, FULLERTON, CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: FUL, Fullerton Municipal

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 65; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, expired; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,278 total, 400 in this make and model, 845 as pilot in command, 34 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: FUL, 2 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 19900319004799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900319004799A), Mar 19, 1990: Cessna 172N, Fullerton, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Hit powerlines and crashed into parking lot attempting non precision instrument approach.

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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