- Date
- June 28, 1990, 12:12 local (19:12 UTC)
- Place
- Ojai, CA
- Injuries
- 1 minor, 3 uninjured
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N39843Bellanca 17-30AUSNGrumman F-14A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 2, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19900628022759A
- Case key
- 26639
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
Structural damage sustained by the Bellanca, N39843, as a result of encountering wake turbulence during a near-collision with a navy F-14A.
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 navy pilot had received clearance to descend from 9,000 ft to 5,000 ft on a south-easterly course. The westbound Bellanca was cruising in level flight at 8,500 ft. VFR conditions prevailed. When the two airplanes were between 100-300 ft of each other, the navy pilot observed the target and abruptly pulled up. The Bellanca passed beneath the F-14 and encountered its wake. Both airplanes landed without further incident. The Bellanca's right wing's rear main wooden spar was found broken. At the time, the F-14 was being radar controlled by a trainee controller under direct supervision. The supervisor had observed the possible traffic conflict, and had directed the trainee to inform the F-14. Responding to the advisory, the pilot of the F-14 observed the traffic and took evasive action.
Aircraft · 2
- Registration
- N39843
- Reported as
- Bellanca 17-30A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 73-30A
- Engine
- Continental IO-520K, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Mcnary, Jacqueline W & James
- Departed
- VNY · Van Nuys, CA
- Destination
- MRY · Monterey, CA
- Flight plan
- 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.
- Registration
- USN
- Reported as
- Grumman F-14A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 159426
- Engine
- P&W TF-30-P414A, 17,077 lbs thrust, turbo fan
- Damage
- No damage
- Flight
- Other work use · Part 91
- Operator
- U.S. Navy
- Departed
- NTD · Nas Point Mugu, CA
- Destination
- NTD · Nas Point Mugu, CA
- Flight plan
- IFR
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N39843
- Age
- 56
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Flight hours
- 1,199 total · 1,199 in this make and model · 568 as pilot in command · 32 in the last 90 days · 8 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft 2
- Age
- 30
- Certificates
- Military, Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 2,275 total · 1,200 in this make and model · 2,000 as pilot in command · 77 in the last 90 days · 29 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.