- Date
- May 18, 1990, 12:48 local (19:48 UTC)
- Place
- Salinas, CA
- Injuries
- 2 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N9993GCessna 172N
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 8, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19900518016619A
- Case key
- 26629
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with terrain while attempting visual flight in instrument meteorological conditions. Self induced pressure to adhere to the proposed flight route in instrument meteorological conditions was a factor.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot and his crewmember conducted a pre-race flight check of his proposed VFR race route the day before the accident. On the day of the race the pilot encountered instrument meteorological conditions over mountainous terrain along his route. He adhered to his original flight route and after clearing the higher terrain began his descent. The aircraft's right, up slope wing, impacted the ground and the aircraft tumbled to a stop.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9993G
- Reported as
- Cessna 172N
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17273640
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-H2AD, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Part 91
- Operator
- California Airways
- Departed
- HWD · Hayward, CA
- Destination
- BFL · Bakesfield, CA
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 63
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 842 total · 312 in this make and model · 683 as pilot in command · 34 in the last 90 days · 12 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 250° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 2,200 ft overcast
- Temperature
- -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Observed at
- SNS, 8 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.