# NTSB LAX90FA138: Beech A36, N3674B, Kneeland, CA, April 7, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 7, 1990, 10:35 local (17:35 UTC)
- Place: Kneeland, CA
- Coordinates: 40.669963, -123.880508 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6700&lon=-123.8805&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report May 15, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26624
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX90FA138
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26624/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX90FA138

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF IFR PROCEDURES BY FAILING TO MAINTAIN THE MINIMUM DESCENT ALTITUDE FOR THE SEGMENT OF THE APPROACH THAT HE WAS FLYING.  THE HILLY/MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN WAS A RELATED FACTOR.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - iaf to faf/outer marker (ifr)
  - weather condition - clouds
  - weather condition - low ceiling
  - ifr procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - minimum descent altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

WHILE EN ROUTE FROM SACRAMENTO TO ARCATA, CA, THE PLT CONTACTED ARTCC & FILED AN IFR FLT PLAN.  AS HE WAS APCHG THE DESTN AT 10,000', HE REQUESTED A LOWER ALT.  HE WAS CLEARED TO DSCND TO 8000'.  HE WAS THEN CLEARED FOR AN ILS RWY 32 APCH TO AN UNCTLD ARPT AT ARCATA WITH A RESTRICTION TO REMAIN AT 8000' UNTIL CROSSING THE YAGER INTXN.  THE PLT BGN HIS DSCNT EARLY & CROSSED THE YAGER INTXN AT 6700.  THE ACFT DSCNDD BELOW RADAR COVERAGE AT 5300'.  RADAR SVC WAS TERMINATED & THE PLT WAS INSTRUCTED TO CONTACT THE ARCATA FSS.  HE CONTACTED THE FSS STATION & WAS ADZD THE WX WAS PARTIALLY OBSCD, 400' BKN, 1500' BKN, 2400' OVC, 3 MI VIS. THE PLT ACKNOWLEDGE & SAID HE WAS IN THE CLOUDS AT 3200', THEN THERE WAS NO FURTHER CONTACT WITH THE ACFT.  A SEARCH WAS INITIATED & THE ACFT WAS FOUND WHERE IT HAD CRASHED ALONG THE ILS COURSE LINE ABOUT 18 MI SHORT OF THE RWY.  IMPACT OCCURRED ON HILLY/MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AT AN ELEV OF ABOUT 2750'.  THE MIN DSCNT ALT FOR THAT SEGMENT OF THE APCH WAS 5200'.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3674B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3674B-1990-11-13), registration cancelled 1990-11-13, S/N E1710 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH A36
- Registry model: [Beech A36](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36) (registry code 1151604) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: E-1710
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520=BB 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Merle Stone Chevrolet, Inc
- Departed: SACRAMENTO, CA
- Destination: ACV, ARACATA, CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: ACV, Arcata, runway 32, 5,998 × 150 ft, macadam

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 66; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 3,365 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 320° at 6 knots
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Observed at: ACV, 17 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 19900407007689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900407007689A), Apr 7, 1990: Beech A36, Arcata - Eureka, CA, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Descended below moca on initial ILS approach. Struck trees and burned. No mechanical or electronic defects found.

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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